Iranian vessel seized by US transferred via Pakistan as crew repatriated

An Iranian ship that was seized by the United States after attempting to breach a U.S. naval blockade has been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran, along with its crew, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, ABC reports.

“Today, U.S. forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” Captain Tim Hawkins said. “Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week.”

Iranian state media identified the six individuals as family members of some of the crew.

“Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade against Iran last month,” Hawkins said.

The incident reportedly occurred on April 19, when the vessel ignored repeated warnings from U.S. naval forces over a six-hour period. Speaking at a Pentagon news conference on April 24, Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the escalation.

“When the crew of the Touska ignored six hours’ worth of warnings from U.S. ships on April 19, a destroyer fired several rounds at the container ship's engine room, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon news conference on April 24. The ship was later boarded by U.S. Marines, who seized the ship.”

The vessel has since been released from U.S. custody as part of the repatriation process, according to officials.

By Sabina Mammadli