Pakistan facilitates return of 22 Iranian sailors after US unlawful seizure of tanker

Twenty-two Iranian crew members of a tanker unlawfully seized by the United States in international waters have been handed over to Iranian consular officials in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, Iranian and Pakistani officials said.

According to Iran’s Consulate General in Karachi, the sailors were transferred to an Iranian representative after completing emergency immigration formalities at Karachi Port.

They will remain in Pakistan temporarily before returning to Iran in the coming days.

Iranian officials said the handover followed efforts by the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad and facilitation by the Pakistani government.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the development in a post on X, saying arrangements were being finalized in close coordination with Iranian diplomatic missions to facilitate the prompt and safe return of the sailors to Iran.

Dar added that Pakistan had remained in close contact with both US and Iranian authorities throughout the process.

According to him, the group is the fourth contingent of Iranian crew members repatriated through Pakistan over the past two months. Dar said Islamabad has so far facilitated the return of more than 70 Iranian nationals during that period.

June 15: Iran-US MoU to end imposed war is widely welcomed as US lifts naval blockade

The MoU between Iran and the US to end the war of aggression has been widely welcomed worldwide as both sides prepare to formally sign it in Geneva on Friday.

Last week, Pakistan also assisted in the repatriation of eight Iranian fishermen who had been rescued at sea and transferred to Karachi before returning to Iran.

The developments come amid ongoing diplomatic understandings, including a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington, under which the United States lifted its illegal naval blockade on Iranian ports on June 16.

The 14-article MoU also requires the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global energy flows, provided that the US and its allies completely end their aggression against Iran and its regional allies.

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