Talks with US and Iran aim to secure a key gateway to Central Asia.

India Seeks Sanctions Relief to Safeguard Chabahar Port Operations.

India has stepped up diplomatic engagement with both the United States and Iran to safeguard its strategic interests in the development and operation of the Chabahar Port amid uncertainty over US sanctions. According to reports, New Delhi is in discussions with Washington to secure an extension of the sanctions waiver that permits India’s continued involvement in the port. The current waiver is set to expire at the end of this month, prompting concerns over the project’s continuity. Simultaneously, India is exploring contingency arrangements with Tehran. As per an Economic Times report, talks are underway with a local Iranian entity that could temporarily manage port operations if the waiver is not renewed, with legal assurances that control would revert to India once sanctions are lifted. India Ports Global Limited operates the port under a 10-year agreement signed in 2024. Chabahar is vital for India’s regional strategy, offering a direct trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan.