The United States has evacuated 22 crew members from an Iranian container vessel and transferred them to Pakistan, in a move described by Islamabad as a “confidence-building measure” amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the crew would be handed over to Iranian authorities on Monday.

The Iranian-flagged vessel Touska, operated by the sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), was seized last month by U.S. forces near Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman.

According to U.S. Central Command, the ship failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period and was deemed to be in violation of a U.S.-imposed maritime blockade.

Iran strongly condemned the seizure, calling it “unlawful” and a breach of international law, while demanding the immediate release of the vessel and its crew.

Pakistan said the ship itself would also be moved into its territorial waters for necessary repairs before being returned to its owners.

Fragile Ceasefire, Ongoing Friction

The development comes weeks after a fragile ceasefire halted the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began in February.

Despite the truce, tensions have persisted at sea, with both sides engaging in seizures and confrontations involving commercial vessels.

Diplomatic Efforts Stall

Pakistan has attempted to position itself as a mediator, hosting peace talks between the U.S. and Iran last month.

However, those negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough, leaving the broader conflict unresolved.

While the return of the crew may signal a limited effort to ease tensions, the broader standoff between Washington and Tehran remains far from settled.

(with inputs from Reuters)