Crew of Iranian ship siezed by US forces evacuated to Pakistan, gov’t says

DEVELOPING STORY, Twenty-two crew members from the seized Iranian ship MV Touska have been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation.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 has been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation, Pakistan’s foreign ministry has 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,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4What’s Iran’s 14-point proposal to end the war? And will Trump accept it?list 2 of 4Was the Iran war the final blow in the collapse of Spirit Airlines?list 3 of 4Is Israel expanding into Gaza despite ceasefire?list 4 of 4Iran lawmaker says Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre‑war stateend of listThe individuals were flown to Pakistan on Sunday night, and will be handed over to the Iranian authorities today, the statement read.“The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs,” Islamabad said, adding that the returns are being coordinated in with the support of both the Iranian and US sides.“Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security,” said the foreign ministry’s statement.US outlet ABC had reported on Sunday that the US Central Command aided in the transfer.“US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” the report quoted CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins as saying.“Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week,” he said.According to the report, Iranian state media identified the six as family members of some of the crew.