ISLAMABAD (MNN); Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday announced that Pakistan has facilitated the arrival of 22 Iranian crew members who had been serving aboard the oil tanker M/T Davina, which was seized by the United States during the recent US-Iran conflict.
In a statement shared on X, Dar said the crew members had safely reached Pakistan and arrangements were being finalized in close coordination with Iranian diplomatic missions to ensure their earliest and secure return to Iran.
He said Pakistan remained in constant contact with both the United States and Iranian authorities throughout the process to ensure the crew’s safe evacuation and repatriation.
According to Dar, this is the fourth group of Iranian sailors whose return has been facilitated by Pakistan over the past two months. With the latest group, Pakistan has now assisted in the repatriation of more than 70 Iranian nationals through its territory.
The deputy prime minister thanked the Iranian government for the confidence it had placed in Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to extending humanitarian assistance during times of crisis.
The M/T Davina was intercepted by US forces on April 13 during the US-Iran conflict, when Washington enforced a naval blockade targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. Several commercial ships linked to Iran were boarded in both the Persian Gulf and international waters as part of the operation.
Earlier, another Iranian-linked vessel, the M/V Touska, operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), was seized by US forces near Iran’s Chabahar Port in the Gulf of Oman on April 19. Six crew members were released on April 29, while the remaining 22 were evacuated to Pakistan on May 4 before returning to Iran through a land border crossing. The vessel itself was transported to Pakistan for repairs before being handed back to its owners.
On May 15, Dar had also announced the successful repatriation of 11 Pakistani and 20 Iranian nationals who had been aboard vessels seized by US authorities on the high seas. He said all individuals were in good health and emphasized that the welfare and safe return of Pakistani citizens abroad remains the government’s highest priority.
