The governments of India and Iran announced a decade-long agreement on Tuesday that would give India control and allow it to develop the port of Chabahar, a stop on the Gulf of Oman that offers India a favorable route to the Persian Gulf.
“Chabahar Port’s significance transcends its role as a mere conduit between India and Iran; it serves as a vital trade artery connecting India with Afghanistan and Central Asian Countries,” Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowald said on Tuesday, signing the agreement in Iran. “This linkage has unlocked new avenues for trade and fortified supply chain resilience across the region.”
The deal may run afoul of the dozens of American sanctions on the Iranian regime, the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism, the State Department warned on Tuesday.