Bhaag Viru Bhaag
T20I Star
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2013
- Runs
- 31,450
India is engaging with the United States to ensure that its strategic role at Iran’s Chabahar Port continues smoothly, as a key sanctions waiver granted by Washington approaches its expiry later this month.
India on Friday said it is engaging with the United States to ensure its operations at Iran’s Chabahar Port continue under a time-bound sanctions waiver granted by Washington, set to expire on April 26.Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the US Treasury Department had issued a letter on October 28, 2025, notifying India of an unconditional sanctions waiver. “As you are aware, the sanctions waiver we have received is valid until April 26, 2026. We are in discussions with the US side to work within this framework,” he added.
Strategic importance of Chabahar
The waiver allows India to maintain its development role at Chabahar Port, which New Delhi considers strategically crucial for accessing Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. The port is also seen as a key regional trade and transit hub.Earlier, the US had granted India a six-month exemption for Chabahar-related activities after the previous waiver expired, providing temporary relief to India’s connectivity plans.
Long-term agreement with Iran
In 2024, India and Iran signed a 10-year agreement for Indian operations at the port, ending years of interim arrangements. The deal was aimed at providing long-term certainty for India’s presence at Chabahar, despite the broader sanctions regime on Iran.Regional connectivity and humanitarian role
Chabahar has become a cornerstone of India’s engagement with Afghanistan and Central Asia. In recent years, it has been used to deliver humanitarian aid, including food grains and medical supplies.The port is expected to play a larger role in regional logistics, with plans to link it to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), opening trade routes to Central Asia, Russia and beyond. Countries such as Uzbekistan have also expressed interest in utilising Chabahar.
