ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan on Thursday thanked Islamabad for securing the return of Iranian crew members aboard the Touska vessel seized in April by US forces, with the sailors now back in Iran. 

“I sincerely appreciate the humanitarian and benevolent action of the esteemed Government of Pakistan to pursue the release of 20 Iranian sailors who were in a precarious situation due to the seizure of their ship in Singapore waters,” Reza Amiri Moghadam wrote on X. 

On April 19, US President Donald Trump announced that an Iranian-flagged vessel, identified as Touska, tried to pass the US naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz, and was subsequently struck and later seized by the American forces in the Sea of Oman.

Besides the Iranian nationals arrested on the Touska vessel, 11 Pakistani nationals were also among the detained crew members, as Islamabad continued efforts to secure their return through talks involving Iranian and US authorities.

The Touska is under US Treasury sanctions over alleged previous illegal activity.

Moghadam also appreciated the efforts made by Pakistan’s top officials.

“These sailors were transferred from Singapore to Islamabad following diplomatic efforts and returned to their beloved homeland a few hours ago,” he said. 

Earlier in May, the Pakistani foreign ministry said that the US had evacuated 22 crew members from Touska to Pakistan, describing it as a “confidence-building measure.”

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also said he had held talks with his Singaporean and Iranian counterparts to seek support for the repatriation of 11 Pakistani and 20 Iranian seafarers aboard vessels seized by US authorities.