Chabahar Relief: India Gets US Sanctions Waiver Extended Till Early Next Year, Says Report

India has secured an extension of the United States’ sanctions waiver for operations at Iran’s strategic Chabahar Port till early next year, ensuring continuity for one of New Delhi’s key regional connectivity projects, CNN-News18 reported, citing government sources.

The waiver, which expired on Tuesday (28 October), allows India to continue developing and operating the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar through its public sector company, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).

The US had earlier set 29 September as the deadline for revoking the waivers on sanctions related to the Iranian port.

The extension comes as a relief for India, which has been using Chabahar Port to send humanitarian aid and essential supplies to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

The port also provides a crucial trade route for Central Asian nations such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, giving them direct access to the Indian Ocean.

In 2024, India entered into a decade-long pact with Iran to manage operations at the Shahid Beheshti Terminal, demonstrating its sustained investment in the Chabahar project.

As part of the arrangement, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) has been tasked with handling port activities, upgrading infrastructure, and advancing regional trade connectivity across maritime and land routes.

The Chabahar Port is also being integrated with the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal trade network connecting India, Iran, Russia, and Central Asia.

US sanctions on Iran, primarily targeting its energy and banking sectors, have deterred global investments in the country’s infrastructure.

In a statement issued on 16 September, the US State Department explained that the decision to withdraw the waivers aligned with Washington’s broader strategy of exerting maximum pressure on Iran, and warned that organisations involved in operations at Chabahar or related projects could be subject to sanctions.

However, since 2018, the Chabahar project has consistently received waivers due to its strategic and humanitarian importance, allowing India to balance ties with both Washington and Tehran.

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