A Nepali national has been detained by Iranian security forces in the Strait of Hormuz region, according to officials and family members.

Thirty-year-old Amrit Jha, a resident of Gaighat in Udayapur, was taken into custody by Iranian forces at Bandar Abbas port while the vessel he was working on was en route to collect oil.

His sister, Puja Jha, said the family learned of the incident through a WhatsApp voice message received a few days ago.

“Eight days ago, I received a voice message from an unknown number. In the message, my brother said the Iranian army had taken them into custody and that other Indians had also been arrested,” she told the Post. Attempts to contact the number later were unsuccessful.

According to the family, Jha had travelled to Dubai two years ago for employment and was working aboard a vessel operated by Black Sea Marine LLC. He last contacted his family on January 12, saying he was in Iran and would return to Nepal after completing his work.

Following the message, the family filed an application with the Department of Consular Services, urging authorities to locate him and facilitate his release.

Ram Kaji Khadka, head of the West Asia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed on Friday that a Nepali citizen is being held by Iranian forces. However, he said official details of the detainee have yet to be formally received.

He added that while Iran has not issued a formal notification, Nepal’s embassy in Qatar is working to gather information from Iranian authorities.

According to the ministry, 11 Nepalis are currently working in Iran. Two others employed at the UAE Embassy in Iran were recently rescued and returned to Nepal via Dubai after travelling through Türkiye.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route, carries nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. Tensions in the region have escalated following strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, with Iran reportedly launching counter-attacks targeting oil tankers.

The International Maritime Organization has said around 20,000 maritime workers are currently aboard approximately 3,200 vessels stranded in the strait. A majority are reported to be Indian nationals.

The Department of Foreign Employment said it has yet to confirm whether any Nepali workers are among those stranded.

“We issue labour permits to Nepalis working on sea vessels, but we cannot currently confirm if those who received permits are among those blocked in Hormuz,” said Director General Mira Acharya, noting that tracking their real-time location is complex.

International media reports suggest worsening conditions for stranded workers. An Indian crew member told AFP that supplies are running low, with limited access to food and water.

India has said it is coordinating with Iranian and other authorities to ensure the safety of its citizens. Workers in the region report that crossing the strait without permission or naval escort remains highly risky, with warnings issued by Iranian forces against unauthorised passage.