India’s Chabahar Port Project Won’t Be Impacted By Oil Trade Sanctions On Iran, US Clarifies

The United States (US) government has clarified that the strategic Chabahar port located in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran which is being built by India will not be covered US President Donald Trump's decision to not renew the exemption given to India to buy Iranian oil without facing any sanctions, reports PTI.

"The exception for reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan, which includes the development and operation of Chabahar Port, is a separate exception, and is not affected by yesterday's announcement," a State Department official said.

In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan had inked a trilateral pact which entailed the establishment of transit and transport corridor among the three countries using Chabahar port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran, besides multi-modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations.

Considered imperative for India's geopolitical interests in respect to Afghanistan, Iran and the wider Eurasian region, the Chabahar port is easily accessible from India's western coast and is also seen as a counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar port which is being built with Chinese investment and cooperation.