ISTANBUL: A vessel intercepted by the United States after attempting to breach a blockade on Iranian ports has been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran along with its crew, according to U.S. media reports on M,onday citing U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
Broadcaster ABC News quoted CENTCOM Spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins, who stated that U.S. forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of the M/V Touska to Pakistan today for repatriation. Hawkins further noted that six other passengers had already been transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week. Iranian state media has since identified those six individuals as family members of the crew.
The vessel was originally seized by U.S. naval forces on April 19 in the Gulf of Oman after it reportedly refused to comply with blockade directions. While the transfer has been reported by military spokespeople, CENTCOM did not immediately respond to further requests for confirmation, and authorities in both Pakistan and Iran have yet to officially confirm the report.
