Crew of Iranian ship seized by US forces evacuated to Pakistan, gov’t says

Pakistan says the 22 crew members from the Iranian vessel MV Touska, which was seized by U.S. forces last month, have been evacuated to Pakistan and will be handed over to Iranian authorities.

The foreign ministry described the move as a confidence-building measure. Reuters and other outlets reported the transfer on Monday, citing Pakistan’s foreign ministry statement.

What happened

CENTCOM said on April 19 that U.S. forces disabled and boarded MV Touska after repeated warnings when it attempted to enter an Iranian port and violate a blockade. At the time, CENTCOM said the vessel remained in U.S. custody.

The latest development concerns the crew rather than the ship itself. Pakistan says the 22 crew members were moved to Pakistan and the handover to Iranian authorities is expected to follow.

Why it matters

The transfer comes amid heightened tension around shipping routes tied to the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf. Any move involving a seized vessel and its crew has diplomatic significance, especially when Pakistan frames it as a confidence-building step.

For now, the exact custody status of the ship itself remains unclear from the latest reporting. The focus of the confirmed development is the crew’s relocation and pending repatriation.

What to watch

The next question is whether Pakistan confirms the handover to Iran and whether the vessel’s final status is resolved. Further clarification would also help determine whether the ship remains under U.S. control or has entered a separate transfer process.