SAEDNEWS: After Weeks of Tension and the Seizure of an Iranian Commercial Vessel, Signs Point to a Full US Retreat and the Imminent Return of the “Tosca” Ship Along With All Its Crew to the Homeland
According to a report by Saed News Service, citing Fars News Agency, the ABC News network, quoting the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has announced the official start of the process to return the seized Iranian vessel named Toska and transfer its remaining 22 crew members back to Iran.
According to the report, the 22 Iranian sailors who had been detained by U.S. forces for more than two weeks have now been transferred to Pakistan, from where they will continue their journey back to Tehran.
This development follows the earlier release of six other crew members last week via a regional country, after which they returned to Iran. With this, all 28 crew members have either been released or are in the process of returning home.
CENTCOM, in a statement cited by ABC, also acknowledged that the vessel Toska has been moved to Pakistani waters for necessary procedures and legal handover steps, and will be returned to its original owner.
From “Piracy” Allegations to a Clear Retreat
On the morning of April 20, 2026, U.S. Central Command forces allegedly attacked and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Toska in international waters in the Sea of Oman, in what Iranian sources described as a violation of international law during a fragile regional ceasefire.
Washington claimed the vessel failed to stop after repeated warnings over a six-hour period.
According to U.S. media reports, the destroyer USS Spruance fired at the ship’s engine room to disable it, after which special forces troops were airlifted onto the deck and took control of the vessel and its crew. Reports also indicated that some crew members’ families were on board.
The Islamic Republic of Iran immediately condemned the action as clear “piracy” and a blatant violation of the regional ceasefire, issuing a strong response.
