Wednesday , December 25 2024

US warns India of sanctions over Iran's Chabahar port deal

Washington: As India on Monday signed a ten-year deal to operate Iran's Chabahar port to expand its trade in Central Asia, the US warned of potential sanctions on any country doing business with Iran. There is a danger of being banned. America is aware of the agreement between Tehran and New Delhi. The development of this port has slowed down due to US sanctions imposed on Iran in view of its nuclear program.

On Monday, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedang Patel said in his daily press conference that we are aware of this agreement. I want the Indian government to talk about its foreign policy goals, the Chabahar port issue and maintaining bilateral relations with Iran. All I'm saying is that this is about America and America has sanctions on Iran and we will continue to enforce them. “Often we tell anyone doing business with Iran that they are at risk of sanctions,” Patel said.

In 2003, New Delhi proposed to develop the Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman in the Sistan-Baluchistan province on Iran's southern coast. In which Indian goods can be transported to Afghanistan and Central Asia by road and rail, bypassing Pakistan. This project is called the International North South Transport Corridor. Chabahar port is an important place in this 7200 km long project. From this location, goods can be shipped to India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Central Asia and Europe. A long-term agreement has been signed between India's Indian Ports Global Limited and Iran's Port and Maritime Organization. In which the Indian company will invest US $ 120 million and will get a loan of US $ 250 million.

India used the same port to send 20,000 tonnes of wheat aid to Afghanistan last year and pesticides to Iran in 2021. Chabahar Port is located at a distance of 550 nautical miles from Kandla Port in Gujarat. Whereas the distance between Chabahar and Mumbai is 786 nautical miles. Thus Gujarat is nearest to Chabahar port.