India Gets US Sanctions Waiver On Operations At Iran’s Chabahar Port

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – The United States has granted India a six‑month sanctions exemption enabling New Delhi to continue operations at Iran’s strategically located port of Chabahar Port, India’s Foreign Ministry announced on October 30.

Under a 10‑year agreement signed last year, India secured rights to develop and operate the port on Iran’s southeastern Gulf of Oman coast, a key gateway for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia — providing a route that bypasses Pakistan, Reuters reported.

The waiver marks a diplomatic win for India as it balances its strategic connectivity ambitions with U.S. sanctions policy. According to an official briefing, the exemption took effect around October 29 and will run for six months.

In his weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the exemption, while also noting that New Delhi remains engaged in ongoing trade discussions with Washington.

Previously, the U.S. had revoked India’s earlier sanctions waiver for Chabahar in September as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran tied to nuclear and missile programs.

In the past week, President Donald Trump has eased back on his rhetoric against Indian trade barriers as the Indian government has worked to placate him.

Indian refiners like Reliance who work closely with the government of India have turned away from Russia to Middle East to procure oil. (with Reuters and IANS input)