Kathmandu, May 18
The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed on Monday that continuous diplomatic efforts
are being undertaken through all available channels to ensure a fair hearing
for Amrit Jha, a Nepali citizen who was arrested in Iran on charges of illegal
smuggling and transportation of goods in Qeshm Island.
According to the latest information
received by the Ministry, the team formed to prepare the Expert Report in the
case is in the process of submitting its report to the court.
The expert team was formed about a month
ago, according to the direction issued by an Iranian court.
"As the case pending before the local
Iranian court will be resolved in accordance with Iranian law, continuous
diplomatic efforts are being undertaken through all available channels to
ensure, among other things, a fair hearing for Jha," the MoFA informed in
a statement.
Iranian authorities had arrested Nepali
citizen Amrit Jha along with six other foreign nationals from Qeshm Island in
January 2026, before the war broke out between Israel-USA and Iran. Currently,
he is being held in custody for judicial remand in Bandar Abbas.
In the same statement, the MoFA expressed regret
over the confusion and inconvenience caused by the public dissemination of
informal information regarding Jha's release while the case remained under
consideration in an Iranian court, while he was in custody.
This confusion was caused by information shared
by Nepal's honorary consul for Iran Shahram Shantiaee, with Nepal's ambassador
in Qatar Kumar Rai. Based on Shantiaee informed Rai on April 15 that a letter
was issued for Jha's release, and he was free.
Ambassador Rai updated Foreign Secretary
Amrit Bahadur Rai about the developments on Jha's release, as the matter has
been turned into a great public concern here in Nepal.
Considering the difficult situation
prevailing there, the immediate public concern regarding the Nepali citizen,
the enquiries made by media outlets, and the fact that the matter had already
reached Jha’s family, the Ministry issued a press statement the same day
stating that informal information had been received regarding the release.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal also shared
the information through social media.
But when the MoFA instructed the Embassy of
Nepal in Doha to obtain written evidence of his release so that the process of his
repatriation to Nepal could be initiated, the mission received an update that
Jha had not yet been released, but the court had directed the preparation of an
Expert Report in relation to the case.
FM Khanal seeks diaspora support in
development
Meanwhile, FM Khanal invited the Nepali
diaspora community to remain actively engaged as partners in building a
prosperous and inclusive Nepal.
Launching a report 'Nepali Diaspora in
Australia' as an event organsied by the Institute for Integrated Development
Studies (IIDS) in Kathmandu on Monday, he said that the Nepali diaspora in Australia represents
one of Nepal’s national strengths.
He noted that
education remains a key pillar of Nepal-Australia relations and emphasised that
they serve as an important soft-power bridge strengthening mutual goodwill,
cultural understanding and multifaceted partnerships beyond remittance, the
MoFA said in its post on X.
The programme was
also attended by Australian Ambassador to Nepal Simon Ernst, Non-Resident
Nepalis, the private sector and researchers.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 May 2026.
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