US Extends Sanctions Waiver for India's Chabahar Port Operations Until 2026
The US has granted India a six-month extension of its sanctions waiver, allowing continued operations at Iran's Chabahar Port until at least April 2026[1][3][6]. This port is vital for India’s regional connectivity, especially for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. The waiver, secured after intense diplomatic efforts, ensures India can maintain humanitarian and commercial activities in the region despite US sanctions on Iran[3][6].
The United States has extended a critical sanctions waiver permitting India to continue operating the Chabahar Port in Iran until at least April 2026, following intense diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Washington[1][3][6]. Chabahar is strategically significant for India, serving as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia and enabling trade that avoids Pakistan, with which India has tense relations. The port is managed by India Ports Global Limited, a state-owned company, under a 10-year agreement signed with Iran in May 2024[1][3]. The US initially revoked the waiver in September 2025, but reversed course after India emphasized the port’s importance for regional connectivity, humanitarian aid, and as part of the International North–South Transport Corridor linking India to Russia via Central Asia[1][3]. The waiver’s extension is seen as a diplomatic win for India, ensuring continuity for a project that also supports Afghanistan’s reconstruction and regional stability. Historically, India’s trade with Iran has declined sharply under US sanctions, particularly in hydrocarbons, but Chabahar remains one of the few active economic links between the two countries. The extension comes amid broader geopolitical shifts, including China’s deepening involvement in the region through its own port projects. The development reflects the complex balance of US sanctions policy, regional alliances, and India’s efforts to maintain strategic autonomy in its foreign policy.
