India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday (September 19, 2025) that it is reviewing the implications of the United States’ decision to revoke the sanctions exemption for Chabahar Port in Iran.
“We have noted the US press release regarding the withdrawal of the sanctions waiver for Chabahar Port and are currently assessing its implications for India,” Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randi Jaiswal said in a statement to the media.
This US decision, announced on September 16, will take effect on September 29, 2025, and is part of Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy against Iran.
The 2018 sanctions waiver allowed India to develop Chabahar Port, which is vital for India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan, without facing US sanctions.
The cancellation of the exemption threatens India’s $120 million investment in the port and could disrupt the operations of India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), which has been managing the Shahid Beheshti terminal since 2018.
