The US has given India a six-month exemption from sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar port, allowing New Delhi to continue a key trade and connectivity project for Afghanistan and Central Asia. MEA says ties with Washington remain a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Why Chabahar Port Is Crucial for India’s Connectivity
The United States has granted India a six-month exemption from American sanctions on the Chabahar port in Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday, allowing New Delhi to continue engagement on the strategically important port project. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the temporary waiver and framed the move as enabling India to pursue development and connectivity links to Afghanistan and Central Asia while managing bilateral ties with Washington.
Chabahar — a deep-sea port on Iran’s southeastern coast — is central to India’s plan to bypass Pakistan for trade routes to landlocked Afghanistan and the wider Central Asian region. The exemption gives India breathing space to carry out port operations, infrastructure work and commercial activity without immediate US penalties, officials said. New Delhi will use the period to study implications and continue project work in coordination with partners.
Asked about India’s oil purchases from Russia, the MEA reiterated that New Delhi’s decisions “take into account evolving dynamics of the global oil market” and said it is studying the implications of recent US sanctions on Russian oil companies. The spokesperson also emphasised that India values its partnership with the United States, calling the bilateral relationship “a comprehensive global strategic partnership” that New Delhi intends to strengthen.
