US Grants India Six-Month Sanctions Waiver for Chabahar Port Operations
The US has extended a six-month waiver on sanctions for India's operations at Iran's Chabahar Port, a strategic move supporting India's regional connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia. This waiver comes after an initial revocation and reflects ongoing US-India trade deal negotiations and Washington’s accommodation of India's geopolitical interests.
India received a crucial six-month exemption from US sanctions on its strategic Chabahar Port in Iran, effective from late September 2025. This port is vital for India's access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, enabling trade routes that bypass Pakistan. The waiver follows an earlier US decision to revoke a 2018 exemption granted under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act during the Trump administration. The extension signals Washington’s strategic concession amidst ongoing trade deal discussions with India and a shift in US policy to accommodate New Delhi’s geopolitical priorities. The exemption allows India to continue developing and operating the port through its public sector entity, India Ports Global Limited, ensuring uninterrupted regional connectivity and economic cooperation despite US sanctions policy toward Iran. This development emphasizes the importance of Chabahar as a gateway to Central Asia and Afghanistan at a time when India's ties with the Taliban regime are improving and trade interests in the region are expanding.
