India is working to secure an extension of the US sanctions waiver for Iran’s Chabahar Port – a vital link in its connectivity network with Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Eastern Russia – with the current waiver expiring on Tuesday.
Sources told ET that New Delhi is engaged in active discussions to ensure continuity of the waiver, which is under consideration in Washington.
The Chabahar Port serves as India’s strategic gateway to Afghanistan for economic cooperation and humanitarian aid, including medical supplies and ambulances sent earlier this month. The Taliban regime, too, has expressed interest in utilising the port for its external trade.
India signed a decade-long management pact with Iran for Chabahar in 2024. The United States had previously extended the waiver until October 28, after initially setting a revocation deadline of September 29.
Regional partners, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, are also keen to use Chabahar to diversify their trade routes beyond China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Russia, through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, is exploring the port for trade access to India and the wider Asian region.
Last month, Tehran hosted the first India-Iran-Uzbekistan trilateral meeting to promote greater utilisation of Chabahar and related transport corridors. India is also negotiating an early harvest FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union to expand trade in key sectors, including rare earth minerals.
