Islamabad, May 4 (EFE).- The United States handed over 22 crew members of a seized Iranian ship to Pakistan, a diplomatic gesture that takes place as Tehran has presented a new peace proposal and Washington has ordered the deployment of 15,000 troops to break the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz under threat of attack.
«As a confidence-building measure by the United States of America, twenty-two crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship MV Touska have been evacuated to Pakistan,» Islamabad’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The individuals, who were flown to Pakistan overnight, will be handed over to Iranian authorities on Monday. After undergoing necessary repairs, the vessel will be returned to Iranian ownership, the ministry added.
“Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security,” the statement said.
Despite Pakistan’s assurances, the fragile ceasefire agreed on Apr. 8 is facing imminent collapse.
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will launch «Operation Freedom Project» to escort commercial ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any interference will be met «with determination.»
According to Trump, the plan will mobilize more than 100 aircraft, destroyers, drones, and 15,000 military personnel.
Iran, which keeps this key maritime passage closed, called Washington’s move a direct violation of the truce. According to Iran’s state-linked Tasnim news agency, authorities have threatened to attack US forces if they attempt to access the strait.
The conflict erupted on Feb. 28 with joint US and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.
After the failure of the first top-level direct talks between both countries in 47 years, the crisis has paralyzed traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and has led to a retaliatory naval blockade imposed by the US on Iranian ports. EFE
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