US Hands Over Seized Iranian Ship and Its 22 Crew to Pakistan
The United States has handed over an Iranian-flagged container ship, which was seized after attempting to breach the US naval blockade in mid-April, to Pakistan. The dozens of crew members on the container ship named Touska were also transferred to Islamabad authorities for repatriation to Tehran.
This move, as reported by Anadolu Agency on Monday (4/5/2026), was covered by US media outlet ABC News, citing statements from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East region.
“Today, US forces completed the handover of the 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” said CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins, as quoted by ABC News on Sunday (3/5) local time.
Hawkins added that six other passengers had been handed over to an unnamed regional country for repatriation the previous week.
Iranian state media reported that the six passengers were family members of some of the crew.
So far, there have been no official statements from Iran or Pakistan regarding the media reports.
The Iranian-flagged container ship Touska was boarded and seized by US military forces in the Gulf of Oman on 19 April, after it was reported to have refused to comply with the naval blockade directives imposed by Washington on Tehran’s ports.
According to maritime security sources at the time, the cargo ship was likely carrying goods that the US considers dual-use items that could be used by the military.
The seizure of the container ship Touska was first announced by US President Donald Trump, before being confirmed by CENTCOM.
CENTCOM stated at the time that the US warship USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to breach the US Navy blockade in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM noted that the cargo ship was heading to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
CENTCOM also released video footage at the time showing the US warship warning the cargo ship before firing shots.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Amir Saeed Iravani, on 21 April, officially requested the UN to compel the US to release the cargo ship and its crew immediately and without conditions.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the UN Security Council, Iravani described the US action as “ongoing international violations by the United States against the Islamic Republic, including the deliberate targeting of Iranian commercial vessels.”