Tehran/New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) India is to help evacuate Nepali and Sri Lankan nationals stranded in Iran, amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, following requests from Kathmandu and Colombo.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran said in a post on X, asking Nepali and 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 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.”

The Nepalese Ambassador to India Shankar P Sharma said in a post on X:

“On the request of the Government of Nepal, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover Citizens of Nepal. We sincerely appreciate the Indian Embassy in Iran (@India_in_Iran) for your support.”

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba requested the Indian government for help, 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”, the Kathmandu Post reported.

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

Nepal 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 Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said efforts are underway to secure their release and repatriation as part of the evacuation process.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry in a notice asked its nationals in Iran to contact the Indian Embassy in Tehran.

The notice read:

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism informs all Sri Lankans in the Islamic Republic of Iran that the Government of Sri Lanka has made arrangements with the Government of India to assist Sri Lankans who wish to leave Iran by accommodating them in their flights.

Accordingly, any Sri Lankans who wish to leave Iran can reach out to the Indian Embassy in Tehran, either on the Telegram Channel or over the following emergency contact numbers:

+98 901 014 4557; +98 912 810 9115; +98 912 810 9109.

They can also contact the Sri Lanka Embassy in Iran for Assistance in the following numbers:

+98 939 205 5161; +98 991 205 7522 (Sinhala/English); +98 936 636 0260"

India has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in Iran, amid the ongoing bombardment by Israel.

UNI RN