Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Tuesday said that two Nepali nationals working in Iran, Ganesh Prasad Pokhrel and Suman Gaire, have been safely evacuated from Mashhad to New Delhi with the support of the Indian government, as coordinated rescue efforts continue for stranded citizens in conflict-affected areas.

The two evacuees, both from Butwal, arrived in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon and were received by officials from the Nepali Embassy and India’s Ministry of External Affairs. They have since departed for Kathmandu.

According to the ministry, the evacuation is part of a broader effort to repatriate 16 Nepalis currently in Iran. Of these, 11 had earlier travelled from Tehran to Mashhad, with nine still awaiting departure.

The remaining five are currently imprisoned in Tehran and face challenges related to documentation and release, as previously reported by the Foreign Ministry’s Publicity Division Chief Lok Bahadur Chettri.

“We express our sincere gratitude to the Government of India for facilitating the evacuation process,” the ministry said in a statement on X, referring to India’s ongoing Operation Sindhu, under which over 2,500 Indian nationals, along with Sri Lankans and Nepalis, have been repatriated from Iran.

Meanwhile, the ministry also reported that over 950 Nepalis residing in Israel have registered their details via an online portal created for potential evacuation. It urged other Nepalis in the country to register immediately and strictly follow local safety protocols amid escalating regional conflict.

Nepal’s evacuation efforts from Israel remain complex due to air travel suspensions across much of the Middle East. Officials are exploring alternate land routes via Jordan or Egypt, though both come with visa restrictions and logistical hurdles.

The Ministry had earlier formed a four-member rapid response team comprising joint-secretaries from the ministries of foreign affairs, home, labour, and tourism to recommend feasible evacuation strategies from Israel.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has also coordinated closely with Indian counterparts, both in Delhi and in Tel Aviv, to seek help in the possible repatriation of Nepalis through Indian channels. The Indian ambassador to Israel has reportedly offered to include Nepalis with valid documentation in ongoing evacuations.

As the situation in the region remains uncertain, officials stress the importance of preparedness, documentation, and regional coordination.

“Our people will come home when India starts evacuating its citizens,” said Chettri earlier this week, adding that Nepal is grateful for India’s timely support.