WANA (May 04) – The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the transfer of the crew of a detained Iranian vessel to Pakistan, a move described as a preliminary step for their return to Iran and the resolution of the vessel’s ownership status.

 

CENTCOM stated that the ship “Touska” and its crew have been moved to Pakistan to facilitate the arrangements for the crew’s return to Iran. According to reports, 22 crew members have been transferred to Pakistan to be repatriated to Tehran from there. CENTCOM further announced that the process of restoring ownership of the vessel to its original owner has commenced.

 

The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the crew of the vessel Touska will be handed over to Iranian authorities today. According to the ministry’s announcement, following repairs and through coordination between Washington and Tehran, the Touska will be returned to its original owners.

 

Previously, six Iranian crew members from the Touska had been released and returned to the country.

 

The vessel Touska, which was previously en route to Iran carrying a cargo of vital items including medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, was seized following intervention by U.S. forces. At the time of the incident, 28 Iranian crew members were on board.

 

Iranian officials, citing the specific circumstances of the crew and humanitarian considerations—including the presence of some crew members’ families—emphasized that legal and diplomatic channels remained the priority for resolving the matter.

 

Within this framework, on April 22, the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran sent an official letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), calling for an urgent review of the case.

 

In the correspondence, the organization expressed concern over the violation of fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need to protect civilian crew members and ensure safe access to medical shipments.

 

The letter further described the seizure of the Touska as an action in conflict with the rules governing the freedom of navigation and humanitarian standards, warning of the consequences for the supply chain of vital goods, particularly for patients requiring continuous medical treatment.