Islamabad, June 26, 2026: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Friday that 22 Iranian crew members of the tanker M/T Davina, which had been seized by the United States during the recent US-Iran conflict, have safely arrived in Pakistan as part of a humanitarian repatriation effort.
In a post on X, Dar said arrangements were being finalized in close coordination with Iranian diplomatic missions in Pakistan to ensure the crew’s earliest and safe return to Iran.
“The 22 crew members served on the Davina. Arrangements are now being finalised in close collaboration with the Iranian missions in Pakistan to facilitate their earliest and safe return to their homeland,” Dar said.
He added that Pakistan had remained in close contact with both the United States and Iranian authorities throughout the process to secure the crew’s release and safe transit.
According to the deputy prime minister, this is the fourth group of Iranian seafarers whose repatriation has been facilitated by Pakistan over the past two months.
“So far, we have assisted in the repatriation of over 70 Iranian brethren, including today’s group of 22, through Pakistani territory,” Dar said, expressing gratitude to Tehran for the trust it had placed in Pakistan.
The M/T Davina was seized by US forces during heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following the outbreak of the US-Iran war. During the conflict, which began on February 28 and ended with the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), US naval forces enforced a maritime blockade and intercepted commercial vessels linked to Iran in the Persian Gulf and international waters.
The Davina was intercepted during an overnight operation on April 13, while another Iranian-linked vessel, the M/V Touska, was boarded and seized by US forces off Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman on April 19. The container ship, belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), had been operating under US sanctions.
Six crew members from the Touska were released on April 29, while the remaining 22 were evacuated to Pakistan on May 4 before returning to Iran via a land border crossing. The vessel itself was subsequently transported to Pakistan for repairs before being returned to its owners.
Earlier, on May 15, Dar had announced the successful repatriation of 11 Pakistani and 20 Iranian nationals who had been aboard vessels seized by US authorities on the high seas.
At the time, he confirmed that all those repatriated were in good health and high spirits, reaffirming that the welfare of Pakistani citizens abroad, particularly those facing difficult circumstances, remains one of the government’s highest priorities.
Pakistan has played an active humanitarian role during and after the conflict, facilitating the safe transit and return of stranded Iranian nationals while maintaining diplomatic engagement with both Tehran and Washington to ensure the secure evacuation of affected maritime crews.
