Kathmandu: The Indian government is set to help in rescuing Nepali citizens who are stranded in Iran due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, following a formal request from the Nepal government. The Indian Embassy in Iran is set to assist in evacuating them, acting on a formal request made by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Foreign Minister Rana formally requested the Indian government through Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava to help evacuate Nepali citizens alongside their own. The ministry is awaiting cooperation from the Indian authorities. There are 16 Nepali citizens in Iran, with five of them currently in Iranian prisons due to breaches of immigration laws. Following the acceptance of Nepal’s request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reached out to Nepalis in Iran, advising them to contact the Indian Embassy.
The Indian Embassy in Iran has issued a notice to this effect, urging Nepali citizens in Iran to get in touch with embassy officials. Foreign Minister Rana has been actively discussing and coordinating efforts for the safety of Nepalis in the region over the past few days. She has instructed Dr. Shankar Sharma, Ambassador of Nepal to India, to coordinate the rescue operations.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri, is maintaining regular contact with the Nepalis in Iran and coordinating with Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Iran, Rakhee Mayuri. Efforts are ongoing to secure the release and repatriation of the five Nepalis currently in Iranian prisons, as emphasized in the foreign ministry’s press release.