US Withdraws Sanctions Waiver on Iran’s Chabahar Port, Effective Sept 29
Move ends 2018 waiver for India; part of Washington’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran
Washington, Sept 19: The United States has announced the revocation of its sanctions waiver for Iran’s strategic Chabahar Port, effective September 29, 2025, terminating a special exemption granted to India in 2018.
The decision, announced by the US Department of State, targets operators of the Chabahar Port under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA). Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas Pigott stated that individuals or entities engaging in port operations after the revocation may face sanctions under IFCA.
This move aligns with the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” policy on Iran, aimed at isolating the Iranian regime, countering its financial networks, and curbing the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC-QF) and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. The US said the sanctions target entities involved in the sale of Iranian oil, which funds weapons development and supports regional proxy groups.
Chabahar Port, located in southeastern Iran near the China-controlled Gwadar Port, holds significant strategic and logistical value. It consists of two main terminals Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti each with five berths, enabling substantial cargo handling capacity.
In 2024, India signed a 10-year agreement with Iran granting operational control over the Shahid Beheshti terminal, through Indian Ports Global Ltd. (IPGL) in partnership with Iran’s Port and Maritime Organisation (PMO). The US move could affect India’s strategic investments and ongoing operations at the port, which is critical for regional trade and connectivity with Afghanistan.
