KATHMANDU:- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that diplomatic initiatives are ongoing for a fair trial of Nepali citizen Amrit Jha, who is being held in pre-trial detention in Bandar Abbas, Iran.

The Ministry issued a statement today clarifying that diplomatic initiatives are ongoing for a fair trial in relation to Jha, who was arrested and detained on charges of smuggling and transporting illegal goods on the Kish Island in Iran.

The ministry stated that diplomatic initiatives are being continued for his fair trial, including the necessary legal process, using all available means, as the case will be resolved in accordance with Iranian law.

Stating that the case is pending in a local court in Iran, the ministry also apologized for the confusion and inconvenience caused by the unofficial information that Jha was released earlier while he was still in detention.

A month before the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran broke out on February 28, 2026, Iranian security forces seized Jha and six other foreigners from the island.

On April 15, Nepali Honorary Consul to Iran Shahram Shanti had sent news of Jha’s release to Nepali Charge d’Affaires in Qatar Kumar Rai. The concerned division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had submitted a report detailing Jha’s release to Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai. The ministry had clarified that he had been released from prison based on that information.

Foreign Minister Khanal had made the matter public on his social media. In addition, the Nepali Embassy, ​​Doha, was instructed to provide written proof of his release for the purpose of completing the process of bringing him back to Nepal.

The ministry has clarified that this matter was informed during a meeting held at the ministry with Foreign Minister Khanal, high-ranking officials of the ministry and Jha’s family.

In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already made public information that the necessary legal process to bring him to Nepal is underway, but Nepali citizen Jha has not been released and that the court has ordered the preparation of an expert report on the case related to him.