May 22, Kathmandu – Nepali citizen Amrit Jha, who was detained in Iran along with a ship, remains in custody. The Government of Nepal is persistently pursuing diplomatic efforts to secure Jha’s release from the prison in Bandar Abbas, Iran. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the case involving Jha is currently under review by a local Iranian court, and the verdict will be delivered according to Iranian law. Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri confirmed that continuous efforts are being made using all available means to ensure a fair hearing and eventual release of Jha.
Paudel explained that the court had ordered the preparation of an “Export Report.” In response, a specialized team was formed, and the report is now in its final stages. Once submitted to the court, further legal procedures will proceed in line with local regulations. The spokesperson noted that the court will make its decisions after receiving the report. “We are advocating for our citizen’s interests, but the final judgment rests with their legal system,” he said.
The “Export Report” is a technical and legal document compiling all details gathered during the seizure, investigation, and inspection of any vessel, goods, or related incidents. In Amrit Jha’s case, the report covers the circumstances of the ship’s detention, vessel specifications, investigations carried out by security forces and police, collected evidence, technical examination results, and legal conclusions related to the incident. This comprehensive report was prepared after the Iranian court requested it, prompting the formation of an expert team.
Upon submission of the report, the court will conduct further hearings and move forward with the decision-making process based on its findings. The Ministry has already covered the expenses incurred to complete this report. Although additional court orders may follow, the timeline for these developments remains uncertain. Earlier, the foreign minister had stated via social media that Jha had been released; however, this conflicted with reality and drew widespread criticism, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue an apology.
The Ministry acknowledged that it had prematurely published the news of Jha’s release based on unofficial information while the case was still under consideration by the local court and Jha remained in detention. The Ministry expressed regret for this mistake. In July 2024, Jha, a 33-year-old from Gaighat, Udayapur, had traveled to the UAE for foreign employment and was working as a seaman on a ship owned by Al Lulu Marine Services LLC. Prior to the current government, the ship—carrying seven people including Amrit Jha—was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Bandar Abbas port in the Hormuz Strait, due to allegations of violating international laws. Legal proceedings were initiated against the seven detained individuals. Following court orders, four of the seven detainees have been released, while three, including Jha, remain in custody. The Ministry confirmed that efforts to secure their release are ongoing.
