US Returns Touska Crew to Pakistan, a Diplomatic Signal Amid Hormuz Tensions
Caolán Magee
The United States returned 22 crew members of the Iranian container ship Touska to Pakistan, a move Islamabad calls a 'confidence-building measure' amid Strait of Hormuz tensions. The handover follows the vessel's seizure by U.S. forces in April and comes as both sides trade accusations and threats in the strategic waterway.
The United States has transferred 22 crew members of the Iranian container ship Touska to Pakistan, in a move Islamabad described as a 'confidence-building measure' amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins stated the crew were handed over for repatriation. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed the transfer, saying the sailors would be handed over to Iranian authorities.
The Touska was seized by U.S. forces in the Gulf of Oman on the morning of April 20, after Washington accused the crew of ignoring a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran labeled the action 'piracy.' According to the U.S. military, the vessel was attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz to Iran's main port, Bandar Abbas. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded the ship after six hours of repeated warnings.
The repatriation of the crew comes as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate. The same day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that U.S. Navy ships would guide stranded vessels through the strait in an operation called 'Project Freedom.' Iran unveiled a new map of the strait with expanded boundaries to the east and warned ships not to attempt passage without coordinating with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian state media reported two Iranian missiles struck a U.S. Navy vessel near Jask Island, but Washington denied the claim.
Pakistan has acted as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. Visits by U.S. and Iranian delegations to Islamabad last month marked the first direct dialogue since 1979, though no agreement was reached. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry described the crew handover as a 'confidence-building measure' and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue. Iran's Foreign Minister acknowledged Islamabad's mediation efforts.
However, analysts say there is little sign of de-escalation. Military analyst Alexandru Hudisteanu, a former Romanian naval officer, told Al Jazeera: 'Any effort to open the Strait of Hormuz will face resistance from Iran. For Iran, controlling the Strait of Hormuz is the only leverage in negotiations.' Iranian analyst Foad Izadi argued that the U.S. blockade effectively broke the ceasefire and was an 'act of war.' He said attacking the engine of the Iranian ship was also an act of war, despite the release of the crew showing short-term goodwill between the two sides.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said it was reviewing Washington's response to a 14-point proposal to end the conflict, sent via Pakistan last week. President Trump earlier called Tehran's offer 'unacceptable.'
