Source: HT
Subject: International Relations
Context: Iran has reaffirmed its support for the Chabahar Port project and deeper cooperation with India despite uncertainty arising from renewed U.S. sanctions and the possible expiry of the sanctions waiver.
About Chabahar Port:
What it is?
- Chabahar Port is Iran’s only oceanic deep-sea port, developed as a multipurpose commercial and strategic port to facilitate regional trade, transit, and connectivity between South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Location:
- Situated in southeastern Iran, in Sistan–Baluchestan province
- Lies on the Gulf of Oman, with direct access to the Indian Ocean
- Around 170 km west of Gwadar port (Pakistan), making it geopolitically significant
Historical background:
- First conceptualised in the 1970s under the Shah of Iran; progress stalled after the 1979 Iranian Revolution
- Gained importance during the Iran–Iraq War (1980–88) as an alternative to Persian Gulf ports
- India–Iran cooperation began in 2003, but sanctions delayed implementation
- In 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan formalised cooperation to use Chabahar as a transit hub
- India took over port operations in 2018; a 10-year contract was signed in 2024, including a $250 million Line of Credit
Key features:
- Comprises two terminals: Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti
- Designed to handle container, bulk, and multipurpose cargo
- Capability to berth large ocean-going vessels, unlike Bandar Abbas
- Integrated with road–rail projects connecting Iran to Afghanistan and Central Asia
- Part of the broader International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) vision
Significance
- Strategic for India:
- Bypasses Pakistan to access Afghanistan and Central Asia
- Enhances India’s role in Eurasian connectivity
- Geopolitical leverage: Acts as a counter-balance to China-backed Gwadar Port under CPEC
- Economic importance: Facilitates trade, humanitarian aid (e.g., wheat shipments to Afghanistan), and regional integration
