Pakistan Facilitates Repatriation of 30 Iranian Nationals, Including Fishermen and Crew
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that the country is facilitating the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals. This group includes eight fishermen rescued by a British vessel after their boat ran aground, and 22 crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina, which was recently interdicted by US authorities. Both groups are expected to transit through Karachi in the coming days, with Pakistan coordinating with Iranian, United States, and United Kingdom authorities for their safe return.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated on Wednesday that Pakistan is facilitating the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals. The announcement was made in a post on the social media platform X.
The group of Iranian nationals includes eight fishermen who were rescued at sea by the British vessel MMA Valour after their boat ran aground. Additionally, 22 Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina, which was recently interdicted by US authorities, are part of this repatriation effort.
Both groups are anticipated to transit through Karachi in the coming days. Pakistan is working closely with Iranian, United States, and United Kingdom authorities to ensure the safe transit and timely return of these individuals to their homeland. The Pakistani government emphasized its commitment to humanitarian cooperation and providing all possible assistance.
Earlier this month, US forces conducted an interdiction of the sanctioned oil tanker Davina, also known as Lenore, in the Indian Ocean. The US military’s Indo-Pacific Command, now referred to as Pacific Command, confirmed the interdiction. The supertanker, capable of carrying up to two million barrels of crude oil, was placed under US sanctions in October 2024 for Iranian oil trading, according to ship tracking data. Separate shipping data indicated that the vessel’s draft suggested it was almost fully laden with an oil cargo.
In May, Pakistan, which acts as a mediator between the US and Iran amidst the Middle East conflict, facilitated the return of 22 crew members from a previously US-seized Iranian vessel. According to the Foreign Office, this earlier transfer was part of “confidence-building measures.”
(Source: Dawn Pakistan, Reuters)
