• 22 seamen captured by US on April 19 transferred to Pakistani custody
• Fifteen cross back into Iran via Rimdan border; seven remain
• Seized Iranian vessel to undergo necessary repairs in Pakistan
• In call with Dar, Araghchi appreciates Islamabad’s efforts
• Diplomats see return of crew, vessel as a ‘limited de-escalatory step’

ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan facilitated the return of crew members from a US-seized Iranian vessel, with at least 15 sailors having reached Iran on Monday, officials and media reports said, even as tensions in the Gulf remained elevated.

The crew were part of a group of 22 people, transferred to Pakistan following their release. Iranian media reported that 15 of them had crossed into Iran through the Gabd-Rimdan border, while others remained in Pakistan for onward repatriation.

The development comes weeks after the vessel MV Touska was seized by US forces amid enforcement of maritime restrictions linked to the wider standoff with Tehran.

Earlier, the Foreign Office said the transfer of crew members was part of confidence-building me­a­sures.

“Twenty-two crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship, ‘MV Touska’, have been evacuated to Pakis­tan,” it said, adding that they would be handed over to Iranian authorities.

It said the crew had been flown into Pakistan before arrangements for their return were finalised. The crew, sources said, was handed over by US forces to Pakistani authorities in Pasni.

The statement came hours after American outlet ABC News reported that an Iranian ship seized by the US after it “failed to comply” with the blockade imposed by the country on Iranian ports had been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation.

“US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,“ the report quoted US Central Command Spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins as saying.

“Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week,” he said. According to the report, Iranian state media identified the six as family members of some of the crew.

Necessary repairs

The ship was boarded and seized by US forces on April 19. The small container ship, which was part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) group that has been hit with US sanctions, was boarded off the coast of Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman.

At the time, the US Central Command said the ship’s crew “failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period”.

The FO also confirmed that the seized vessel would be shifted to Pakistani waters for repairs ahead of its return. “The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs,” it said.

Officials described the process as coordinated between the two sides. “These returns are being coordinated in tandem with the support of both the Iranian and US sides,” the statement said.

Pakistan termed the move a positive step but avoided linking it to any broader breakthrough. “Pakistan welcomes such confidence building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy,” the FO said.

Talks only viable path to peace, Dar tells Araghchi

The statement also referred to a late-night phone conversation betw­een Deputy Prime Minister and For­eign Minister Ishaq Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, which coincided with the release of the vessel and crew.

According to the FO, the Iranian minister appreciated Pakistan’s role in the process, while Mr Dar reiterated that engagement remained essential. He “underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward peaceful resolution of issues,” the statement said.

The Touska had been carrying 28 crew members at the time of its seizure. Six were released earlier, followed by the transfer of the remaining 22 through Pakistan.

While the return of the crew and the vessel has slightly eased the immediate standoff, there has been no broader reduction in tensions. Maritime restrictions linked to the Strait of Hormuz remain in place, and both sides continue to hold firm positions on key issues.

Diplomatic contacts have continued through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but there is no indication of an early resumption of direct negotiations.

Officials here maintained that their role was limited to facilitating communication and preventing further escalation.

The release of the crew is being seen as a limited de-escalatory step, keeping channels open without addressing the underlying disputes that triggered the confrontation.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026