ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday said that 22 crew members of the seized Iranian ship “MV Toska” have been transferred to Pakistan and will be handed over to Iran today under a confidence-building measure.
In a post on X, the Foreign Ministry stated that this move has come as a positive example of confidence-building measures by the United States.
“As a confidence-building measure by the United States of America, twenty-two crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship, ‘MV Touska’, have been evacuated to Pakistan,” the FO spokesperson said.
The individuals arrived in Pakistan last night and will be handed over to the Iranian authorities today, while the ship will be returned to its original owners through Pakistani territorial waters after necessary repairs, the foreign ministry added.
This process is witnessing close cooperation between Pakistan, Iran, and the United States.
🔊PR No.1️⃣1️⃣4️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Pakistan Facilitates Transfer of Iranian Crew Members
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hhe0eNVh1K— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 4, 2026
Pakistan has welcomed this development and made it clear that it will continue its role for peace, stability, and diplomatic solutions in the region, as concluded.
Earlier today, US forces announced that they have delivered an Iranian ship, which they seized last month together with its 22 crew members, to Pakistan, according to a United States Central Command spokesperson who spoke to ABC News on Monday about the ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz situation.
US President Donald Trump claimed that the US military attacked the Iranian vessel Touska after it failed to comply with Washington’s orders to leave its planned route through the Strait of Hormuz on April 19.
The US force, which has maintained its naval blockade against Iranian ports since last month, proceeded to board and capture the ship in the Gulf of Oman.
The situation between Washington and Tehran escalated because both countries had been engaged in their ongoing conflict since February, when US and Israeli forces initiated unexpected attacks against Iran.
