GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 15th May. A day after the US warned of “potential risk of sanctions” following India’s 10-year agreement to operate the Chabahar Port in Iran, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the project would benefit the entire region and cautioned against a “narrow view.”
Speaking in Kolkata during the launch of the Bangla edition of his book ‘Why Bharat Matters’ on Wednesday, Jaishankar highlighted the US’s previous appreciation of Chabahar’s strategic importance.
“I did see some of the remarks which were made, but I think it’s a question of communicating, convincing, and getting people to understand that this is actually for everyone’s benefit. I don’t think people should take a narrow view of it,” he stated.
He added, “The US has been appreciative of the fact that Chabahar has a larger relevance… we will work at it.”
This response came after the US warned of sanctions on entities engaging with Tehran. Vedant Patel, the US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson, noted, “US sanctions on Iran remain in place, and we will continue to enforce them. Any entity considering business deals with Iran needs to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions.”
The agreement for the Chabahar Port, signed between Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and Iran’s Port & Maritime Organisation (PMO), enables the operation of the Shahid Beheshti port for 10 years. Jaishankar highlighted India’s long-standing association with the project and the challenges faced in securing a long-term pact.
“We have had a long association with the Chabahar Port, but we could never sign a long-term agreement. The reason was… there were various problems on the Iranian end… the joint-venture partner changes, the condition changed,” he explained. “Finally, we were able to sort this out and get the long-term agreement done, which will benefit the entire region.”
The Chabahar Port is a crucial transit point for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, with India playing a key role in its development. The Indian government has invested in the port’s infrastructure to enhance its capacity as a transit route for Indian goods destined for Afghanistan and Central Asia.
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