Apr 24, Kathmandu - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it remains sensitive to the safety and interests of Nepali citizens residing in West Asia, where conflicts continue to persist.

During a press conference held at the Ministry on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said that Nepal is closely monitoring the developments in the region and is committed to safeguarding the security of its nationals there.

He emphasized that the government is actively taking initiatives to ensure the safety and interests of the large Nepali diaspora in West Asia. Regarding the situation in Iran, he informed that out of ten Nepali citizens in Tehran, two are preparing to return to Nepal, while the remaining eight are not yet willing to return immediately.

Chhetri also provided updates on Nepali citizen Amrit Jha, who was arrested in Iran prior to the outbreak of the conflict. He explained that a local court has passed a partial verdict in the case involving a water vessel Jha is associated with, resulting in the release of four individuals, with the process for the release of the remaining involved persons, including Jha, already underway.

However, the spokesperson noted that due to the current complex situation and ongoing legal procedures under Iran’s judicial system, it may take a few days to resolve the matter fully.

Additionally, he informed that nine Nepali citizens have been arrested in Cambodia on charges related to various criminal activities. The Ministry also reported that, through the efforts of Nepali embassies in Thailand and Myanmar, a total of 612 Nepali nationals have been rescued from Southeast Asian countries so far.