The United States Department of State has announced that the Chabahar Port Sanctions Exemption, which was issued in 2018 to facilitate the reconstruction of Afghanistan, has been revoked as of Monday, September 29. This decision could affect the development of the port and its related economic projects.
Publish dateWednesday 1 October 2025 - 15:20
Story Code : 330382
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran is the country’s only ocean port that provides India with direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. The port was granted a sanctions exemption by Washington in 2018 and has become one of India’s most important strategic projects in the region.
With the revocation of this exemption by the United States, concerns have arisen about the slowdown in development and investments. However, based on the 10-year agreement signed between Iran and India last year, New Delhi has committed to developing and managing Chabahar Port for more than a decade.
According to Kabir Tanja, a researcher at the Center for West Asian Studies in India, “New Delhi’s commitment to developing Chabahar Port is a result of its policy of focusing on neighboring countries, especially Iran. The port is recognized as India’s strategic gateway to Central and West Asia, and its development will continue despite US sanctions pressure.”
In response to this decision, Iranian President Masoud Pezzekian called it “unfair and illegal” and criticized the United States and European countries, especially Britain, France, and Germany, for undermining diplomacy with this action.
Also, Mohammad Rastad, former CEO of the Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasized that the sanctions exemption for Chabahar Port was not a special privilege and was more symbolic and psychological than real. According to him, the cancellation of this exemption will not have a tangible impact on the port’s performance.
Afghan experts have also warned about the negative effects of this decision on the country’s transit process. According to them, “the cancellation of the Chabahar embargo exemption may challenge Afghanistan’s access to safe and sustainable trade routes and increase the country’s dependence on Pakistani border crossings.”
According to Indian media reports, the country’s Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that Washington’s decision will not affect India’s commitments to the development of Chabahar. On the other hand, Iranian officials have announced that work related to the development of docks and equipping the container terminal at this port is continuing without interruption. Earlier, officials of this country had also said that Chabahar is a lifeline for Afghanistan during border tensions with Pakistan.
According to observers, the cancellation of the Chabahar embargo exemption may challenge foreign investments in the short term, but studies show that India will continue this project due to its strategic interests. Regional experts say that Afghanistan is among the main winners of the continued development of Chabahar, as the port can reduce the country's dependence on Pakistani border crossings and strengthen its transit position in the region's economic equations.
With the revocation of this exemption by the United States, concerns have arisen about the slowdown in development and investments. However, based on the 10-year agreement signed between Iran and India last year, New Delhi has committed to developing and managing Chabahar Port for more than a decade.
According to Kabir Tanja, a researcher at the Center for West Asian Studies in India, “New Delhi’s commitment to developing Chabahar Port is a result of its policy of focusing on neighboring countries, especially Iran. The port is recognized as India’s strategic gateway to Central and West Asia, and its development will continue despite US sanctions pressure.”
In response to this decision, Iranian President Masoud Pezzekian called it “unfair and illegal” and criticized the United States and European countries, especially Britain, France, and Germany, for undermining diplomacy with this action.
Also, Mohammad Rastad, former CEO of the Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasized that the sanctions exemption for Chabahar Port was not a special privilege and was more symbolic and psychological than real. According to him, the cancellation of this exemption will not have a tangible impact on the port’s performance.
Afghan experts have also warned about the negative effects of this decision on the country’s transit process. According to them, “the cancellation of the Chabahar embargo exemption may challenge Afghanistan’s access to safe and sustainable trade routes and increase the country’s dependence on Pakistani border crossings.”
According to Indian media reports, the country’s Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that Washington’s decision will not affect India’s commitments to the development of Chabahar. On the other hand, Iranian officials have announced that work related to the development of docks and equipping the container terminal at this port is continuing without interruption. Earlier, officials of this country had also said that Chabahar is a lifeline for Afghanistan during border tensions with Pakistan.
According to observers, the cancellation of the Chabahar embargo exemption may challenge foreign investments in the short term, but studies show that India will continue this project due to its strategic interests. Regional experts say that Afghanistan is among the main winners of the continued development of Chabahar, as the port can reduce the country's dependence on Pakistani border crossings and strengthen its transit position in the region's economic equations.
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