22 Iranian sailors reach Karachi as Pakistan continues repatriation effort
In a post on X, Dar said the sailors were from the vessel Lenore/Davina, which US forces boarded as part of a wider naval blockade Washington imposed on Iranian shipping.
The crew had been on the vessel M/T Davina, seized by US forces after the naval blockade was imposed on Iran on April 13. US forces had boarded the supertanker in the Indian Ocean around early June.
Dar said the crew safely arrived in Karachi through Pakistan's facilitation, and that arrangements were now being finalized in collaboration with Iranian missions in Pakistan to ensure their earliest and safe return to their homeland. Pakistan had remained in close contact with both the US and Iranian authorities throughout the process.
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According to officials, the sailors arrived at Karachi port with Pakistani Foreign Ministry officials present and were transferred to the Iranian consulate after completing emergency entry formalities.
IRNA reported that the crew members were handed over to Iranian diplomats in Karachi and are expected to return to Iran in the coming days, a statement also echoed by Iran's consulate general in the city.
Dar said it was the fourth group of Iranian crew members in the last two months whose repatriation has been facilitated by Pakistan, and that the country has assisted in the repatriation of over seventy Iranian nationals through its territory to date.
He went on to thank the Iranian leadership for the trust it has placed in Pakistan, and praised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Pakistani institutions for their professionalism in ensuring a smooth and safe repatriation for the Iranian nationals involved.
I am pleased to share that twenty two (22) Iranian crew members of the vessel Lenore/Davina, recently interdicted by US authorities, have safely arrived in Karachi this afternoon, AlhamdoLilah.
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) June 26, 2026
Arrangements are now being finalised in close collaboration with the Iranian… https://t.co/wnxfUNhlmw
The development comes against the backdrop of easing tensions between Washington and Tehran. The handover falls under a 14-point understanding between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan, which took effect on June 18 after being signed by senior leaders on both sides.
Earlier reporting had also noted that the broader interim agreement was reached in Switzerland, with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators, as both sides agreed to restore diplomatic engagement and prepare for technical-level talks.
The Davina episode is one of several maritime interdictions carried out by US forces during the recent period of hostilities. A separate vessel, the container ship M/V Touska, had also been seized by US forces earlier in the conflict before its crew was likewise routed home through Pakistani territory.
Pakistan's role in the repatriations highlights the delicate diplomatic position it has occupied throughout the crisis, maintaining working relationships with both Washington and Tehran without facilitating direct contact between the two.
