India agrees to rescue Nepalis stranded in Iran

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 22: The Government of India has agreed to rescue Nepali citizens facing difficulties in Iran due to the ongoing Israel-Iran war. 

At the request of the Government of Nepal, the Indian Embassy in Iran will carry out the rescue operation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba said.  According to a statement issued by her secretariat, she had requested the Indian government to help in evacuating 16 Nepali citizens currently residing in Iran during the rescue of their own nationals.

“A small number of our Nepali citizens are also present in Iran. I have requested, through the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Navin Srivastava, that the Indian Government kindly include the Nepali nationals as well when they evacuate their citizens. We are awaiting their assistance,” she said. 

In view of the Israel-Iran conflict that has been ongoing for the past several days, Minister Dr. Rana made the appeal to the Indian Government for the rescue of Nepalis in Iran. For this purpose, she also directed Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Dr. Shankar Sharma, to make the necessary coordination, read the statement. 

Following Nepal’s request, the Indian Embassy in Iran has agreed to assist. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Nepalis in Iran and instructed them to approach the Indian Embassy, which has also issued a corresponding notice. MoFA Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri has been in contact and coordination with the Nepalis there and with Rakhi Mayuri, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Indian Embassy in Iran.

Similarly, the Indian Embassy has called upon both Nepali and Sri Lankan citizens in Iran to establish contact. Out of the 16 Nepalis, five are currently in Iranian prisons due to immigration-related offences. The Ministry has also continued its efforts to secure their release and repatriation.