India has officially confirmed a six-month exemption from US sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar Port, effective retrospectively from The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the exemption ensures uninterrupted Indian operations at the port, which plays a crucial role in connecting India with Afghanistan and Central Asia through the Indian Ocean. India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) had signed a 10-year, $370 million deal with Iran to develop the port’s Shahid Beheshti terminal.

Chabahar holds immense strategic value as it provides India a trade and humanitarian corridor that bypasses Pakistan. The exemption comes as India and the United States continue negotiations toward finalizing a comprehensive trade agreement. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that both sides remain actively engaged in talks, while Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stressed that India will pursue a “fair and equitable” deal, without external pressure.

The US had previously sanctioned Chabahar in September 2025, as part of broader restrictions on Iran over its nuclear activities. However, this exemption echoes the 2018 waiver under the Trump administration, recognizing Chabahar’s humanitarian and regional importance. India also continues to assess the impact of recent US sanctions on Russian oil companies, reaffirming its stance on securing affordable and diversified energy sources to meet domestic needs.