New Delhi, Jan 17: India is currently engaged in high-level discussions with the United States to secure a continuation of the sanctions waiver for the strategically vital Chabahar Port. The current conditional waiver, granted by the U.S. Treasury in October 2025, is set to expire on April 26.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the government is focused on ensuring the port remains operational despite the ongoing regional crisis in Iran. “We remain engaged with the U.S. in working out this arrangement,” Jaiswal directly said during a press briefing, pointing to the port’s role as a critical link for regional connectivity.
The diplomatic push comes at a time of extreme volatility. The Indian government has issued a formal advisory for its citizens to avoid all travel to Iran. Those already present in the country, including nearly 9,000 students, pilgrims, and professionals, have been urged to leave via commercial flights as the security situation continues to deteriorate.
“Given the situation there, we have issued advisories asking Indian nationals to avoid all travel to Iran, and those already resident to leave by available means,” Jaiswal said. He added that the government is closely monitoring developments to ensure the welfare of its nationals abroad.
Strategically located on the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar serves as India’s primary gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, effectively bypassing Pakistan. The port is also a significant counterweight to the China-operated Gwadar Port in Pakistan. While the U.S. has previously recognized the port’s humanitarian value, the signing of a 10-year development agreement between New Delhi and Tehran last year led to renewed warnings from Washington regarding potential sanctions.
Trade between the two nations remains a small fraction of India’s global commerce. Jaiswal noted that Iran accounts for only 0.15 percent of India’s total trade matrix. In the previous financial year, bilateral trade totaled approximately $1.6 billion, with Indian exports making up $1.2 billion of that figure.
