Iranian sailors return home after vessel detention near Singapore

Twenty Iranian sailors who were aboard a vessel detained by the United States near Singapore have returned to Iran following diplomatic efforts involving Iran, Pakistan, and Singapore, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, announced.

In a post on X, the envoy said the sailors were repatriated after what he described as humanitarian efforts by Islamabad to facilitate their release. He stated that the crew had been in a difficult situation after their ship was detained in Singaporean waters.

I sincerely appreciate the humanitarian and benevolent action of the esteemed Government of Pakistan to pursue the release of 20 Iranian sailors who were in a precarious situation due to the seizure of their ship in Singapore waters.
In this regard, I would like to thank the…

— Reza Amiri Moghadam (@IranAmbPak) May 21, 2026

“In this regard, I would like to thank the tireless efforts of Honorable Prime Minister H.E. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, especially H.E. Mr. Ishaq Dar, Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and other relevant agencies.

These sailors were transferred from Singapore to Islamabad following diplomatic efforts and returned to their beloved homeland a few hours ago,” Moghadam added.

By Jeyhun Aghazada