The United States has granted India a six-month waiver from sanctions to operate the Iranian port of Chabahar. Indian officials confirmed this on Thursday. The exemption strengthens New Delhi’s strategic efforts to expand trade with Afghanistan and the Central Asian region. This route bypasses Pakistan.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the development during a weekly news briefing. “I can confirm that we have been granted an exemption for a six-month period,” Jaiswal stated. He was referring to the crucial port operation.
The Chabahar port is a cornerstone of India’s regional connectivity strategy. Last year, India signed a 10-year contract with Iran to develop and operate the facility. It is located on the Gulf of Oman.
US extends sanctions waiver for India's Chabahar Port till April 2026.
Chabahar is a critical link in India's outreach to Central Asia.@Mohammed11Saleh has more. pic.twitter.com/iKJQ3qtmtL
— WION (@WIONews) October 30, 2025The port is designed to be linked by rail to Afghanistan. This provides the landlocked nation an alternative to the Pakistani port of Karachi. It fosters economic development. This move aligns with India’s recent steps to re-engage with Taliban-run Afghanistan. These steps include reopening its embassy in Kabul.
The sanctions waiver signals a potential warming in US-India relations, which had been strained. The decision follows recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed a desire to reach a trade deal with India.
Tensions had escalated after the US doubled tariffs on certain Indian imports. Additionally, the US pressured New Delhi to reduce its oil purchases from Russia. Jaiswal confirmed that talks on a bilateral trade deal with the Trump administration are ongoing.
The waiver, which an anonymous Indian official said took effect on Wednesday, follows the US’s revocation of the previous exemption last month as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.
