Kathmandu/New Delhi: India is to help evacuate Nepalese nationals stranded in Iran, amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, following a request from Kathmandu.
The Nepalese Ambassador to India Shankar P Sharma said in a post on X:
“On the request of the Government of Nepal, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover Citizens of Nepal. We sincerely appreciate the Indian Embassy in Iran (@India_in_Iran) for your support.”
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba requested the Indian government for help, through Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, to include 16 Nepali nationals currently in Iran during the evacuation of India’s citizens from Iran.
“There are a small number of Nepali nationals in Iran. I requested the Indian government to help evacuate our people while evacuating their own citizens,” said Deuba. “We are awaiting their support”, the Kathmandu Post reported.
Following Nepal’s appeal, the Indian Embassy in Tehran and Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have instructed the stranded Nepalis to contact the Indian Embassy in Tehran.
The Indian mission has also issued a notice inviting not only Nepalis but Sri Lankan nationals in Iran to establish contact.
“On request of the governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka,” the Embassy of India in Iran said in a post on X on Saturday. “The citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka may urgently reach out to the embassy, either on the Telegram channel or over the emergency contact numbers. +989010144557; +989128109115; +989128109109.”
Nepal Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudyal Chhetri confirmed ongoing coordination with the Indian Embassy’s deputy chief of mission, Rakhee Mayuri, and the Nepalis in Iran.
Of the 16 Nepali nationals, five are currently in Iranian prisons due to immigration-related offences. The Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said efforts are underway to secure their release and repatriation as part of the evacuation process.
