US transfers seized Iranian ship and crew to Pakistan for repatriation
The United States has handed over the Iranian-flagged vessel M/V Touska and its 22 crew members to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, according to US media citing CENTCOM. Six other passengers were transferred last week. The ship was seized on April 19 after refusing to comply with the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The United States has transferred an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, the M/V Touska, along with its 22 crew members, to Pakistani authorities for repatriation to Iran, US media reported Sunday, citing US Central Command (CENTCOM). “Today, US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” ABC News quoted CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins as saying. Hawkins added that six other passengers had already been transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week. Iranian state media reported that the six individuals were family members of some of the crew members.
Seizure and context
US naval forces seized the Touska on April 19 in the Gulf of Oman after it reportedly failed to comply with directions related to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. The blockade was imposed on April 13 following the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began Feb. 28. CENTCOM did not respond to a request for confirmation, and Pakistani and Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed the handover. The transfer represents a de-escalatory step after weeks of tensions over maritime interdictions.
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