KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that diplomatic efforts are continuing to ensure a fair trial and secure the release of Nepali citizen Amrit Jha, who was arrested in Iran on charges of smuggling illegal goods.

Jha was arrested on Qeshm Island and is currently being kept in pre-trial detention in Bandar Abbas, Iran.

In a press release issued today, the Ministry clarified Jha’s situation and responded to misleading reports on social media and in some media outlets claiming that he had been released.

According to MoFA, Jha and six other foreign nationals were detained by Iranian security forces on Qeshm Island in early January 2026, before the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran started on February 28, 2026.

The Ministry said that, based on the latest information, a team of experts formed to prepare the “expert report” requested by the court is now finalizing and submitting the report.

MoFA also stated that since the case is being handled by a local court in Iran under Iranian law, Nepal is continuing diplomatic efforts through all available channels to ensure Jha receives a fair trial and is brought back to Nepal.