Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that Pakistan is facilitating the return of 30 Iranian nationals to their home country as part of humanitarian cooperation between Islamabad and Tehran.
He explained that the group includes eight Iranian fishermen who were rescued at sea by the British vessel MMA Valor after their boat ran aground, as well as 22 Iranian sailors who were aboard the oil tanker Davina, also known as Lenor, which was recently intercepted by US authorities in the Indian Ocean.
He added that both groups are expected to arrive in Karachi in the coming days, confirming that close coordination is continuing with Iranian, US, and British authorities to ensure their safe transit and expedite their return to Iran. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to continuing humanitarian assistance and support for the Iranian people.
The development comes amid rising regional tensions, as US forces carried out an interception and inspection operation of the Davina oil tanker on June 5 in the Indian Ocean, as part of Washington’s efforts to enforce sanctions on Iranian oil trade. The tanker, capable of carrying around two million barrels of crude oil, has been under US sanctions since 2024 due to its links to Iranian oil trade and was reportedly located off the southern coast of Sri Lanka at the time of the operation.
The repatriation effort also extends Pakistan’s previous humanitarian role in May, when it assisted in the return of crew members from another Iranian vessel detained by US authorities, in what Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described at the time as part of “confidence-building measures” between the concerned parties.
اشترك لتصلك أبرز التغطيات والقصص الحصرية من فريق الأسطل مباشرةً إلى بريدك.