Iranian ship, crew seized by US transferred to Pakistan: report

In a significant development concerning maritime tensions in the Gulf of Oman, an Iranian ship, the M/V Touska, along with its 22 crew members, has been transferred to Pakistan by US forces. The vessel was intercepted by the US Navy on April 19 after allegedly failing to comply with the ongoing naval blockade imposed on Iran. This action has escalated the already strained relations between the two nations.

“

US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation.

According to Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US Central Command, the transfer to Pakistan facilitates the repatriation of the crew back to Iran. Six other passengers, identified as family members of some crew, were transferred earlier. The US maintains that the ship's crew ignored multiple warnings over a six-hour period before being boarded and seized. The ship itself, part of the sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) group, is also being returned to its original owners.

“

Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week.

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has vehemently condemned the seizure, labeling it as 'unlawful' and a violation of international law, demanding the immediate release of the ship and its personnel. Iran's military has gone further, accusing the US of 'armed piracy' and stating the ship was en route from China. This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened naval activity and confrontations in the region, including Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and recent seizures of other vessels.

“

Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the US naval blockade against Iran last month.

From Pakistan's perspective, facilitating the repatriation of the crew represents a delicate balancing act amidst regional geopolitical complexities. While the US frames this as enforcing a blockade and ensuring freedom of navigation, Iran views it as an act of aggression. The involvement of Pakistan as an intermediary highlights its role in regional diplomacy. For Iran, this incident is another instance of what it perceives as US overreach and economic warfare, reinforcing its narrative of facing external pressure. The international community watches closely as such events underscore the fragility of maritime security in this critical waterway.

“

failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period