India Says Chabahar Port Terminal Unharmed in US Strikes

• India says Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar port remains undamaged.
• MEA confirms reports of US strikes but says terminal was unaffected.
• Centre continues discussions after US sanctions waiver expired.
• India reiterates civilian infrastructure should not be targeted.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th July: India on Friday said the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Iran’s Chabahar Port did not suffer any damage during recent US strikes on the strategic maritime facility, even as it reiterated that civilian infrastructure should never be targeted in conflicts.

Responding to media reports that the United States had struck the Chabahar port, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the terminal operated by India remained unaffected.

“On the question of it being attacked, yes, we have seen some reports in that regard, but we can also tell you that the terminal itself did not face any damage,” Jaiswal said.

The MEA spokesperson also noted that the US sanctions waiver granted for the Chabahar project had expired in April. He said India has since been holding discussions with relevant stakeholders on the future course of the project.

“There was a waiver which was given by America and that waiver got over some time back. Post that, we have been in discussion with relevant stakeholders as to how to take this particular issue forward,” he said.

Reiterating India’s position on the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Jaiswal stressed that civilian infrastructure should not be targeted under any circumstances.

Developed jointly by India and Iran, Chabahar Port is strategically significant as it provides India direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. The port is also a key component of the proposed International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal trade route connecting India with Iran, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.