Nepali national Amrit Jha, who had been in the custody of Iranian security forces, has been released, the government said on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal confirmed the development, saying authorities are now in contact with him and working to facilitate his return.

“Amrit Jha, who was captured in Iran, has been released. Our honorary consulate general in Iran as well as the embassy in Qatar are in touch with him. Our team is working to bring him out of Iran,” Khanal said in a social media post on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier said it was working to verify Jha’s status after reports of his detention by Iranian authorities.

Officials had stated that he was among crew members taken into custody from Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, although details of the arrest, including the date and reason, were not confirmed.

Jha, who worked as a seaman for a foreign shipping company, had travelled to Iran as part of his employment.