The United States has evacuated 22 crew members from an Iranian container vessel seized in the Arabian Sea, transferring them to Pakistan in what officials described as a limited confidence-building step between Washington and Tehran.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the crew were removed from the Iranian-flagged ship Touska and will be handed over to Iranian authorities on Monday.
The vessel, operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), had reportedly been boarded and seized by U.S. forces last month near the Gulf of Oman, close to Iran’s Chabahar port.
Washington said the ship was acting in violation of sanctions and failed to respond to repeated warnings over several hours.
U.S. Central Command maintained that the operation was carried out after the ship did not comply with instructions and was linked to activities restricted under U.S. sanctions targeting Iran’s maritime trade network.
Iran strongly condemned the seizure, calling it illegal and accusing Washington of violating international law.
Tehran demanded the immediate release of both the vessel and its crew.
Pakistan, which has been involved in mediation efforts between the two countries, said the transfer of the crew was part of ongoing diplomatic engagement aimed at easing tensions at sea.
The ship itself is expected to be moved into Pakistani territorial waters for repairs before eventual return to its owners.
The incident comes against the backdrop of heightened naval tensions following months of conflict and a fragile ceasefire between the two sides. Despite that truce, both countries have continued to accuse each other of maritime aggression, including ship seizures and blockades.
Earlier peace talks held in Pakistan failed to produce any lasting agreement, leaving diplomatic channels strained as military and economic pressure continues on both sides.
The latest development is being viewed as a small but notable gesture amid wider hostilities that have disrupted shipping routes and intensified concerns over security in key global waterways.
