US Seizes MV Touska, Evacuates 22 Iranian Crew to Pakistan

Pakistan became the immediate destination for the crew of the Iranian container ship MV Touska after the United States seized the vessel for failing to comply with the US blockade on Iranian ports.

“The crew members of an Iranian ship that was seized by the United States after it “failed to comply” with the US blockade on Iranian ports were transferred to Pakistan, and 15 of them were later repatriated to Iran”

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reported that Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “As a confidence-building measure by the United States of America, twenty-two crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship, ‘MV Touska’, have been evacuated to Pakistan,” and it added that “The individuals had been flown to Pakistan on Sunday night.”

Al Jazeera

The National similarly described the transfer as a “confidence-building measure,” quoting Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar saying, “The individuals were safely flown in Pakistan last night and will be transferred to Iran today.”

DW said Islamabad confirmed “22 crew members from an Iranian container ship seized by the US would be evacuated to Pakistan,” and it described the Foreign Ministry’s wording as a “confidence-building measure” with support from both sides.

The New Region placed the same handover in the context of a broader process, saying the crew were flown to Pakistan and would be “handed over to Iranian authorities, while the vessel will be returned after repairs, with efforts coordinated with both the Iranian and US sides.”

Across the accounts, the ship’s status was consistent: it was seized near Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman, and the crew were moved to Pakistan for repatriation.

The evacuation followed the US seizure of the Iranian-flagged Touska, which Pakistan and multiple outlets described as part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) group hit with US sanctions.

Al Jazeera said the ship was boarded and seized by US forces on April 19, describing it as an Iranian container ship that “failed to comply” with the US blockade, and it specified that the boarding occurred “off the coast of Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman.”

BBC

DW similarly said the Touska was seized “near the coast of Iran's Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman,” and it said the vessel is “part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), which has been sanctioned by Washington.”

The National and DW both echoed that warning period, with The National stating the crew “failed to comply with repeated warnings issued over six hours” and DW saying the crew “refused to comply with six hours of repeated warnings.”

After the seizure, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry framing emphasized the next steps: Al Jazeera said the ship “will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs,” and it added that “returns are being coordinated with the support of both the Iranian and US sides.”

Taken together, the reporting ties the Pakistan evacuation to a sequence: seizure near Chabahar on April 19, a six-hour warning period cited by CENTCOM, and a repair-and-return process coordinated with both sides.

The Touska evacuation unfolded while the US and Iran were locked in a wider maritime confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington describing a new effort to move stranded ships and Tehran issuing threats about foreign forces entering the waterway.

“Islamabad on Monday confirmed that 22 crew members from an Iranian container ship seized by the US would be evacuated to Pakistan”

DW

BBC reported that Trump announced the US would begin trying to free merchant ships stranded by Iran’s closure of the key shipping channel, and it quoted Trump saying “Project Freedom” was a “humanitarian gesture” and that any interference would “be dealt with forcefully.”

NewsNation similarly described Iran’s response, quoting Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s joint military command, saying, “We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive U.S. Army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz.”

Al Jazeera’s account tied the ceasefire and naval confrontations together, saying the US-Israeli war on Iran “was partly halted four weeks ago after the countries agreed to a fragile ceasefire mediated by Pakistan,” but it added that “Washington and Tehran have since engaged in naval confrontations and seizures of commercial vessels.”

The New Region described the operational framing, saying Trump on Sunday said neutral countries had asked the US to help move their ships out of the Strait of Hormuz and that the operation, termed “Project Freedom,” would begin on Monday.

In this reporting, Pakistan’s evacuation of the Touska crew is presented as a diplomatic step occurring alongside a military posture: the US says it is guiding stranded ships, while Iran says foreign armed forces will be attacked if they enter the strait.

While the Touska crew was being evacuated to Pakistan, the reporting also highlighted competing claims about whether US forces were struck in the Strait of Hormuz.

BBC said the US denied an Iranian media report that one of its warships was struck by Iranian missiles as it tried to enter the Strait of Hormuz, quoting CENTCOM that “no US Navy ships have been struck” and that forces are “enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”

NewsNation

The Express Tribune described the same dispute through a different lens, stating “Iran's IRGC claims hitting US warship in Hormuz, but CENTCOM denies” and repeating that CENTCOM said “no US Navy ships have been struck.”

NewsNation likewise said the US military denied that one of its warships was struck by two Iranian missiles, quoting CENTCOM: “No U.S. Navy ships have been struck. U.S. forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”

The Express Tribune also included a separate incident involving the United Arab Emirates, reporting that UAE accused Iran of attacking an empty crude oil tanker belonging to the Abu Dhabi state oil firm ADNOC with drones.

Across these accounts, the same events are framed through opposing claims: Iranian-linked outlets describe missile impacts and prevented destroyers, while CENTCOM and US-aligned reporting insist that “no US Navy ships have been struck.”

The evacuation of the Touska crew to Pakistan is portrayed in the reporting as part of Islamabad’s ongoing mediation role, even as the broader Iran-US conflict continues to generate maritime risks and stalled diplomacy.

“Iran's IRGC claims hitting US warship in Hormuz, but CENTCOM denies IRGC vows to 'forcefully stop' ships violating Hormuz regulations The Centcom denied any attack of its ships on the Strait of Hormuz as IRGC claimed two “enemy” ships targeted at the Strait of Hormuz”

The Express Tribune

DW said Islamabad has been acting a “go-between” since shortly after the US began launching strikes on Iran in late February, and it added that “attempts at peace talks have so far yielded few results.”

The Express Tribune

Al Jazeera described Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry statement as welcoming the transfer, saying “Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security.”

The BBC similarly tied the move to the ceasefire and peace planning, saying the move came as the two countries observe a temporary ceasefire that began on 8 April and as they work on agreeing on a permanent peace plan.

The New Region reported that following the US seizure, Khatam al-Anbiya said the attack on Touska was “a violation of the ceasefire and maritime piracy,” vowing to respond.

With Project Freedom involving “Some 15,000 US service personnel” and “more than 100 aircraft,” the reporting frames the next phase as both operational and politically sensitive, because Iran’s military warned it would treat interference as a ceasefire violation.