The United States transferred 22 crew members from the Iran-flagged container ship Touska to Pakistan for repatriation on Monday. CENTCOM said the sailors were handed over to Pakistani officials after US forces seized the vessel in the Gulf of Oman on April 20. Pakistan called the move a "confidence-building measure" between Tehran and Washington amid rising clashes in the Strait of Hormuz. The transfer removes one immediate humanitarian flashpoint even as naval tensions continue.
The handover was confirmed by US Central Command and Pakistan's foreign ministry. Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesman, said the crew had been handed over for repatriation. Pakistan's foreign ministry said the sailors would be returned to Iranian authorities and described the transfer as a "confidence-building measure."
How Washington says the seizure happened
The Touska was seized by US forces near the Strait of Hormuz on April 20. CENTCOM said the USS Spruance fired its 5-inch deck gun at the ship's engine room shortly after midnight local time, disabling the vessel. US Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit then boarded the container ship after what CENTCOM said were repeated warnings over six hours.
US officials have said the ship tried to transit the strait while a US-declared naval blockade of Iranian ports was in place. CENTCOM reported the Touska was en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran's main commercial port, and that the boarding occurred near Chabahar.
Iran condemned the seizure. Tehran called the action "piracy" and said it had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to Iranian statements cited by state media.
Escalation around the strait
The crew transfer came on a day of continued friction in and around the strait. President Donald Trump announced a plan he called "Project Freedom," under which US naval ships would escort or guide vessels trapped by the disruptions. Iran issued a new map showing maritime boundaries shifted eastward.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned ships to coordinate with it before passing.
State media in Iran reported two missiles struck a US naval vessel near Jask Island after the vessel ignored IRGC warnings to turn back. Washington denied any attack. Both sides have reported interceptions and seizures of ships in recent weeks.
Diplomatic efforts have been running in parallel. Pakistan has played a central role as a mediator. Talks hosted in Islamabad last month ended without a breakthrough. Iran's foreign ministry said it was reviewing a US response to a 14-point proposal Tehran sent through Pakistan. Trump earlier called Tehran's offer "unacceptable."
The transfer of the Touska crew doesn't erase broader disputes. Naval activity, new maps and mutual accusations continued on Monday. Each side still controls different levers of pressure at sea.
Related Articles
- 5,000 troops to leave Germany amid Iran dispute
- Narges Mohammadi, 54, Critical After Iran Denies Transfer
- US oil giants' Q1 profits fall as Iran war chokes Hormuz
Pakistan's foreign ministry said the sailors would be returned to Iranian authorities.
This article was created with AI assistance.
