The Indian government has shown readiness to evacuate Nepali nationals stranded in Iran, following a request by the government of Nepal amidst the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

The Indian government showed readiness upon a request from Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.

She requested the Indian government, through Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, to include 16 Nepali nationals currently in Iran during the evacuation of India’s citizens from Iran.

“There are a small number of Nepali nationals in Iran. I requested the Indian government to help evacuate our people while evacuating their own citizens,” said Deuba. “We are awaiting their support.”

To facilitate the evacuation, Minister Deuba also instructed Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma, to coordinate with relevant Indian authorities.

Following Nepal’s appeal, the Indian Embassy in Tehran agreed to assist and both Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian mission have instructed the stranded Nepalis to contact the Indian Embassy in Tehran.

The Indian mission has also issued a notice inviting not only Nepalis but Sri Lankan nationals in Iran to establish contact.

“On request of the governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka,” the Embassy of India in Iran said in a post on X on Saturday. “The citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka may urgently reach out to the embassy, either on the Telegram channel or over the emergency contact numbers. +989010144557; +989128109115; +989128109109.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudyal Chhetri confirmed ongoing coordination with the Indian Embassy’s deputy chief of mission, Rakhee Mayuri, and the Nepalis in Iran.

Of the 16 Nepali nationals, five are currently in Iranian prisons due to immigration-related offences. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said efforts are underway to secure their release and repatriation as part of the evacuation process.