ISLAMABAD: A vessel intercepted by United States forces after allegedly attempting to breach a blockade on Iranian ports has been transferred to Pakistan, along with its crew, for onward repatriation to Iran, according to US media reports citing US Central Command (CENTCOM).
“Today, US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,” CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins was quoted as saying by ABC News.
Hawkins further stated that six additional passengers had already been transferred last week to another regional country for repatriation. Iranian state media reported that those six individuals were family members of crew onboard the vessel.
CENTCOM did not immediately respond to requests for further confirmation. Pakistani and Iranian authorities have also not issued any official statement regarding the reported transfer.
The incident traces back to April 19, when US naval forces intercepted and seized the M/V Touska in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly failed to comply with orders related to a blockade enforcement operation involving Iranian ports, according to the reports.
Further details about the vessel’s cargo, ownership, and the circumstances surrounding the interception have not yet been independently verified.
