KABUL: New Delhi has successfully extended the exemption of Chabahar Port from U.S. sanctions on Iran, News18 India reported today.
Indian government sources have informed the media that this exemption has been extended from yesterday (Wednesday) until early next year, providing an opportunity for the continuation of one of New Delhi’s regional connectivity projects.
With Chabahar exempt from U.S. sanctions, India will have the chance to continue the development of the Shahid Beheshti terminal through the state-owned entity, India Ports Global.
The report states that New Delhi uses Chabahar Port to send humanitarian aid and essential goods to Afghanistan—without passing through Pakistani territory. The port is also considered a vital link to Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, providing them direct access to the Indian Ocean.
Chabahar Port serves as India’s gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, holding strategic importance for the country.
Last year, India Ports Global signed a ten-year agreement to construct the Shahid Beheshti terminal at this port.
The U.S., aiming to pressure Iran, has imposed sanctions on the country’s energy and banking sectors, complicating and even making foreign investments in Iran nearly impossible.