KATHMANDU, March 19: As geopolitical tensions simmer across the Middle East, their ripple effects are being felt far beyond the region—reaching even Nepali households. One such case surfaced on Friday, when the government confirmed that a Nepali national has been detained by Iranian authorities in the strategically sensitive Hormuz region.
The individual, identified as Amrit Jha, was working aboard a vessel navigating the busy maritime corridor when Iranian forces took control of the ship and detained its entire crew. Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the incident came to light after Jha’s family alerted authorities.
“We have confirmed that one Nepali national has been taken into custody in the Hormuz region,” said Joint Secretary Ramkaji Khadka, who heads West Asia Division at the MoFA, during a press briefing on Friday.
The Strait of Hormuz—long regarded as one of the world’s most volatile maritime chokepoints—has once again drawn global attention amid escalating tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran. For thousands of migrant workers from Nepal stationed across the Gulf, the uncertainty is not just geopolitical—it is deeply personal.
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An additional four Nepali nationals in Iran have made contact with authorities, bringing the total number of Nepalis in Iran in touch to ten. Officials say all of them are safe and accounted for.
Joint Secretary Khadka said a total of 10 Nepali nationals have registered to return on the aircraft arranged to evacuate Indian nationals as coordinated by the Indian Embassy.
This development comes amid coordinated efforts to assist foreign nationals in Iran, where Nepalese citizens have sought support from diplomatic missions to ensure their safety and facilitate their return.
Sensing growing anxiety, the government had earlier urged Nepalis in the region to stay in regular contact. The response has been significant. According to MoFA Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri, more than 82,100 Nepalis have registered their details through an online system set up to monitor their safety.
“In the initial days, nearly 6,000 individuals reported feeling unsafe,” Chhetri said. “But in recent days, that number has dropped noticeably, suggesting some improvement in the ground situation.”
The MoFA’s emergency control room has fielded 78 calls so far, with a total of 170 interactions recorded from across the Middle East. While early inquiries were largely driven by safety concerns, the focus has now begun to shift. “People are now asking about labour approvals and when regular processes will resume,” Chhetri noted, hinting at a cautious return to normalcy.
Officials say Nepal’s diplomatic missions—ten in total across the Gulf region—remain on alert, closely tracking developments and coordinating assistance where needed. The government has also confirmed that no Nepali nationals are currently stranded in transit, and that all 52 pilgrims who had been in Jeddah have safely returned home.
Even so, the situation remains fluid. “We are serious about the safety of our citizens,” Chhetri said, adding that Nepal stands ready to initiate rescue operations if conditions deteriorate.
