Another group of Iranian sailors from vessel seized by US arrives in Pakistan

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said 22 Iranian crew members of a tanker earlier seized by the United States have arrived in Pakistan.

On April 13, during the US-Iran war, Washington imposed a naval blockade and would target and board oil tankers and other vessels trying to enter or leave Iranian ports. One of these was the M/T Davina, which was seized during an overnight interdiction by American forces.

In a post on X, the deputy prime minister said that the 22 crew members served on the Davina, adding: “Arrangements are now being finalised in close collaboration with the Iranian missions in Pakistan to facilitate their earliest and safe return to their homeland.”

“We remained in close contact with the US and Iranian authorities throughout this process.”

Dar added that this was the fourth group of Iranian crew members whose repatriation was facilitated by Pakistan over the last two months.

“So far, we have assisted in the repatriation of over 70 Iranian brethren (including today’s group of 22) through Pakistani territory,” he added, thanking Tehran for the “trust they have reposed in Pakistan”.

During the war — which started on February 28 and was brought to a halt by the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) — US forces would interdict commercial vessels linked with Iran not only within the Persian Gulf, but in international waters as well.

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

On April 29, six of the crew members were freed, while on May 4, the remaining 22 were evacuated to Pakistan, before returning to Iran via a land border crossing. The Touska was also backloaded to Pakistan for repairs before being returned to its owners.

On May 15, Dar said that 11 Pakistanis and 20 Iranians, aboard vessels seized by the United States on the high seas, were successfully repatriated.

“All individuals are in good health and high spirits,” Dar announced, adding that the welfare of Pakistanis abroad, particularly those in distress, remains the government’s highest priority.

“All individuals have reached Bangkok from Singapore and already boarded the flight scheduled to reach Islamabad later tonight,” he added. “Our [Iranian] brothers will then be facilitated to return to their homeland.” ...