<p data-path-to-node="5">India is maintaining active diplomatic and technical dialogue with all partners and international stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted commercial operations at <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="181">Chabahar Port</b> in Iran, following the expiration of a conditional United States sanctions waiver on April 26, 2026.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">Confirming the development in Parliament and during media briefings, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal and Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh affirmed that New Delhi remains committed to protecting its strategic investments and operational role at the <b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="306">Shahid Beheshti Terminal</b>, which serves as India’s primary trade gateway to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian markets.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="8"><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="0">Financial Commitments, Interim Management Framework, and Strategic Connectivity</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="9">The government’s ongoing negotiations aim to preserve regional supply chain access while addressing complex geopolitical sanctions:</p><ul data-path-to-node="10"><li><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Completion of $120 Million Capital Commitment:</b> India has fully discharged its financial obligations under the long-term bilateral agreement signed on May 13, 2024, between state-owned <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="184">India Ports Global Limited (IPGL)</b> and Iran’s <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="229">Ports and Maritime Organisation (PMO)</b>. The full $120 million (₹1,000+ crore) capital commitment for port equipment and infrastructure development was remitted, with the final tranche transferred in August 2025.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Exploration of Interim Management Mechanism:</b> To prevent operational disruptions following the expiry of the US waiver, Indian and Iranian authorities are negotiating a legally binding interim arrangement. Under the proposed framework, IPGL’s subsidiary, <b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="254">India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ)</b>, will collaborate with local Iranian port authorities to oversee terminal operations until long-term diplomatic clarity is achieved.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Bypassing Regional Chokepoints:</b> Operating since 2018, Chabahar Port provides India with a direct, sea-land multimodal transit corridor to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistani land routes. The terminal also serves as a crucial southern anchor for the <b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="266">International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)</b>.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Geopolitical Balancing Act:</b> MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh emphasized that the Chabahar project was conceptualized to support Afghan reconstruction, boost economic ties with Eurasia, and enhance regional supply chain resilience. New Delhi is actively assessing all legal and regulatory implications to safeguard Indian assets from third-party sanctions exposure.</p></li></ul>