India secures fresh US waiver extension for Iran's Chabahar Port operations

India has obtained an extension of the United States' sanctions waiver for its operations at Iran's strategic Chabahar Port till early next year.

CNN-News18 reported citing government sources that the extension, which had expired on Tuesday (October 28), will allow India to continue managing and developing the Shahid Behesti Terminal through its public sector enterprise India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).

The waiver had previously been set to lapse on September 29, under Washington's earlier decision to withdraw sanctions relief linked to the Iranian port.

Strategic significance for India 

The renewal of the waiver comes as a major relief for New Delhi, ensuring the continuity of one of its most vital regional connectivity projects.

India has been utilising the Chabahar Port to deliver humanitarian assistance and essential supplies to Afghanistan while bypassing Pakistan. The port also facilitates direct maritime access to Central Asian nations such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, enhancing India's trade outreach to landlocked regions.

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In 2024, India and Iran had signed a decade-long agreement, allowing IPGL to operate and develop the Shahid Behesti Terminal.

This arrangement underscores India's long-term strategic commitment to Chabahar, enabling infrastructure and promoting regional trade links by integrating both sea and land transport networks, as per News18.

Link with the international corridor 

The Chabahar Port forms a crucial segment of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal trade route connecting India, Iran, Russia, and several Central Asian countries.

The integration aims to reduce transit time and costs, strengthening India's position as a key player in regional logistics.

Sanctions and diplomatic balance 

US sanctions on Iran, particularly targeting its financial and energy sectors, have long created challenged for foreign investors.

The US Department of State on September 16 stated that the revocation of waivers was consistent with President Trump's "maximum pressure policy to isolate the Iranian regime". It also warned that those continuing operations at Chabahar would "risk exposure to sanctions."

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Since 2018, however, the Chabahar Port project has repeatedly secured exemptions acknowledging its humanitarian and strategic relevance.

India believes this renewed waiver will allow it to strengthen trade and connectivity with Central Asia while maintaining a careful balance between its diplomatic relations with Washington and Tehran, as per CNN-News18.