US knows Chabahar’s importance: MEA as State Dept flags ‘potential risk’ of sanctions over Iran deal

NEW DELHI : After the US said India’s signing of a 10-year deal with Iran for the operation of Chabahar Port carries “potential risk” of sanctions, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) remarked Friday that Washington is aware of the port’s importance, especially with respect to providing humanitarian aid to the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Underscoring that the port agreement is a “major achievement” for India, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “The United States understands the importance of Chabahar port for continued humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan and to provide it with economic alternatives.” He added that the deal signed between India and Tehran reflects India’s commitment towards realising its potential as a “connectivity hub” for Afghanistan and other landlocked countries in the region.

Washington is aware of the port’s importance, especially with respect to providing humanitarian aid to the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Underscoring that the port agreement is a “major achievement” for India, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “The U

India has been using the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar Port to ship humanitarian goods to Afghanistan, bypassing the land route through Pakistan. Since 2018, India has supplied 85,000 MT of wheat, 200 MT of pulses and 40,000 litres of the pesticide, Malathion, according to the MEA spokesperson.

India signed a contract Monday for the Chabahar Port, which will allow India Ports Global Private Limited (IPGPL), a state-owned entity, to manage and operate a terminal in the port for 10 years, instead of having to renew a short-term contract every year, which was the case earlier.

Three days later, the US State Department said that any country having business dealings with Iran runs the risk of sanctions.

In an interview with AajTak earlier this week, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti was asked about the potential for sanctions. Adding that “further clarification” is awaited, Garcetti said, “One thing is clear, we know that Iran has been a force for terrorism, a force for exporting a lot of bad things, not just in the Middle East, but other places. And we’ve been very consistent.”

The MEA spokesperson did not provide a conclusive response on whether India would resume oil imports from Iran going forward. In 2019, India, under pressure from the Trump administration, had suspended energy imports from Tehran.

The Indian foreign ministry also revealed that there has been no request for consular access from the four Indian nationals arrested by Canadian police in connection with the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last June. Nijjar’s death has sparked a diplomatic row between New Delhi and Ottawa.