[49225] US transfers Iranian ship 'Tosca' and its crew to Pakistan on their way back to Iran

Transfer of the ship 'Tosca' and its crew back to Iran

According to reports from Al Jazeera and Wahat Al-Iraq, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed that the US has transferred 22 crew members of the Iranian cargo ship "Tosca" to its custody. According to the reports, the crew will be extradited to Iranian authorities later today, following a transfer process carried out in coordination with Washington and Tehran.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) released images of what it called a "boarding and seizure operation" of the ship in the Arabian Sea, noting that the ship was confiscated due to an "attempt to breach the US maritime blockade." On the South Lebanon channel, affiliated with the Axis of Resistance, the operation was described as a violent takeover, and it was noted that six additional crew members had already been transferred to a regional country last week.

According to Arabi21, the spokesperson for the US Central Command, Captain Tim Hawkins, confirmed the completion of the crew transfer to Pakistan. After necessary repairs, the ship is expected to return to its original owners. Concurrently, the Al Mayadeen network reported in the background that Washington is promoting a "Freedom Project" to remove stranded ships in the Gulf under humanitarian cover, a move that has raised concerns about potential escalation in the event of military escort through the straits.