Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said Pakistan was working closely with Singapore, Iran and US authorities to secure the welfare and repatriation of Pakistani and Iranian nationals aboard vessels seized by the United States near Singaporean waters.
In a statement posted on X, Dar said he had spoken with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and requested support in facilitating the safe return of 11 Pakistani and 20 Iranian nationals currently aboard the seized vessels.
Dar said he also held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as both countries remained in close coordination on the issue. He added that Pakistan was prepared to assist in the repatriation of Iranian nationals through its territory.
The deputy prime minister appreciated Singapore’s cooperation and said Pakistan’s Foreign Office and relevant authorities were coordinating with US officials and other stakeholders to ensure the safety and earliest return of the affected nationals.
Separately, the Foreign Office said Singapore appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran.
According to the FO, the two foreign ministers discussed maritime security issues and recent incidents in international waters and agreed to maintain close coordination between relevant authorities.
The development comes days after Pakistan facilitated the return of crew members from another US-seized Iranian vessel, with at least 15 sailors reaching Iran earlier this week as part of what the FO described as “confidence-building measures”.
The vessel was seized by US forces on April 19 near Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. The ship belonged to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), which is subject to US sanctions.
At the time, US Central Command said the vessel had failed to comply with repeated warnings and was in violation of a US blockade targeting Iranian shipping activities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier thanked Pakistan for assisting in the repatriation of Iranian nationals and acknowledged Islamabad’s diplomatic and humanitarian support.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have intensified since the outbreak of conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran on February 28. Iran has effectively restricted shipping through the strategic waterway, while several vessels attempting transit have reportedly come under fire or been seized.