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India has obtained a six-month exemption from US sanctions to continue operating Iran's Chabahar Port, following diplomatic talks between New Delhi and Washington. The waiver renewal ensures uninterrupted work at the port, a key part of India's regional trade and connectivity strategy linking it with Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Russia through the International North-South Transport Corridor. The exemption, which follows the expiry of the earlier waiver, reinforces Chabahar's role in India's long-term efforts to develop sustainable trade routes bypassing Pakistan.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the United States granted India a six-month exemption from its sanctions regime to allow continued operations at the Chabahar Port in Iran. Officials stated that the waiver renewal followed a series of discussions between the two governments and was crucial to maintaining India's strategic and humanitarian activities in the region. Advertisement
The previous waiver had lapsed recently, and the new exemption was secured before operations were disrupted. This decision comes after India highlighted the port's economic and regional importance to the US administration, explaining that Chabahar provides a stable and reliable route for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
India's ten-year agreement with Iran, signed in 2024, allows Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to manage and develop the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar. Under the agreement, IPGL oversees cargo handling, infrastructure improvement, and port equipment upgrades. The contract was seen as a major step to deepen India-Iran cooperation while expanding India's presence in regional logistics networks.
Since its initial development, the port has played a significant role in humanitarian support, including the shipment of essential goods and medical aid to Afghanistan. India has used Chabahar to send wheat, medicine, and ambulances to Kabul, strengthening its trade and development outreach. The Taliban administration has also expressed willingness to use the port for commercial purposes, viewing it as a vital link to the Indian Ocean.
Chabahar is a central part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which connects India with Russia and Central Asia through Iran. The corridor aims to reduce freight time and costs between India and Eurasia. Countries such as Uzbekistan have shown growing interest in using Chabahar to diversify their trade routes, while Russia has been exploring opportunities to transport goods to India through this corridor amid shifting global trade patterns.
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