India seeks interim Chabahar arrangement with Iran amid US sanctions uncertainty

New Delhi: India is working to safeguard its strategic role at Iran’s Chabahar port amid uncertainty over US sanctions on Tehran. Media reports said the government seeking an arrangement that could allow its interests in the key port project to be protected until sanctions-related restrictions are resolved.

The issue assumes significance as the United States seeks renewed diplomatic engagement with Iran, potentially opening the way for a broader understanding on sanctions. India, meanwhile, is looking at ways to ensure that its long-term position at Chabahar is not disrupted during the current period of uncertainty.

According to media reports, India has been discussing an arrangement with Iran under which a local Iranian ports authority could manage the port for the time being. New Delhi is also seeking assurances that control and operational rights can be restored to the Indian side once US sanctions affecting the project are lifted.

India is understood to be seeking a legal guarantee from the Iranian government to ensure that any interim arrangement between the two port authorities remains binding and that its interests are protected during the transition.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday reiterated India’s commitment to the Chabahar Port project, saying New Delhi remains engaged with all relevant stakeholders. The ministry also said it is closely monitoring developments concerning the strategic Iranian port, highlighting its continued importance for India’s connectivity and regional engagement.

India had received a six-month US sanctions waiver for Chabahar in October 2025, but the exemption expired on April 25, leaving the project exposed to renewed sanctions-related uncertainty.

Nevertheless, India has maintained its focus on the strategic value of Chabahar, which serves as an alternative route for India to reach Afghanistan and Central Asia as well as access markets in the Indian Ocean region. The port of Chabahar has been seen as an essential element in the wider reach-out of India to Central Asia, providing it an alternative route to reduce dependency on other routes.

It has been suggested that India’s continued role in Chabahar will remain uncertain for too long and could result in a situation where China can take advantage and increase its footprint in this vital port location. Thus, for New Delhi, keeping an interest in Chabahar becomes both a connectivity and a strategic engagement issue regarding Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.

These negotiations take place amid India’s balancing act between maintaining its strategic ties with Iran and considering the impact of American sanctions. Such an agreement may help India keep its interests in Chabahar while ensuring a means to reclaim control over the port once sanctions constraints are lifted.