Published on 4/30/2026
The Iranian Tasnim Agency said – yesterday, Wednesday – that 6 of the crew of the container ship “Tosca” have returned to Iran after follow-ups by Tehran, while 22 other sailors are still on board the ship that is being held by the US Navy.
On April 20, US President Donald Trump announced that his country’s navy took control of an Iranian cargo ship called “Tosca”, after intercepting it in the Gulf of Oman, claiming that it was trying to break the naval blockade.
Tasnim explained – quoting its correspondent – that as a result of the follow-ups carried out by Iran, 6 members of the Iranian crew were released at this stage, and she added that “the Iranian follow-up continues to release the other 22 Iranians on board this ship, who are still hostages of the American government,” according to Tasnim.
The Iranian agency said that Tehran “refrained at this stage from carrying out a military operation to liberate the ship, due to the presence of members of the Iranian crew and their families on board,” but it confirmed the continuation of official follow-ups and taking what it described as “necessary measures.”
An Iranian military spokesman announced – in response to Tosca’s detention – that “the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and take revenge on this armed piracy committed by the American army.”
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded the immediate release of the ship, its crew, and their families. No details were revealed about the ship’s crew at the time.
