WANA (Dec 13) – Iranian officials say cooperation between Iran and India at the port of Chabahar is continuing without interruption, with the Indian side having fully met its USD 120 million investment commitment—an outcome that once again underscores Chabahar’s strategic importance in regional transit and trade dynamics.

 

Saeed Rasouli, Managing Director of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, said that under the bilateral agreement between Tehran and New Delhi, India had committed to investing USD 120 million in various sectors of Chabahar Port. According to him, this amount has been fully realized, both in the form of cash and port equipment, and has already been injected into the project. He stressed that Indian investors are currently present at Chabahar and that cooperation is proceeding according to plan.

 

Rasouli explained that the required port equipment has been procured by the Indian side and is now in the process of installation. He acknowledged that the project experienced a temporary slowdown at one point due to the suspension of certain exemptions, but noted that the Indian side itself actively followed up on restoring these exemptions, allowing cooperation to return to its normal course.

Under the terms of the agreement, several berths at Chabahar Port have been allocated to the Indian side, enabling them to generate revenue through cargo handling and ship operations in return for their investment. Iranian officials emphasize that this arrangement does not amount to India controlling the entire port, as overall management remains under Iranian authority.

 

At the same time, international marketing efforts aimed at activating transit flows through Chabahar are underway. According to the current plans, several container vessels from India, each with a capacity of around 6,000 TEUs, are scheduled to call at Chabahar on a monthly basis—a scale that analysts believe could significantly strengthen the port’s role in regional supply chains.

 

As Iran’s only oceanic port, with more than 115 kilometers of maritime borders, Chabahar enjoys a unique geographic position. Beyond its commercial and transit functions, the port also holds considerable potential in tourism, agriculture, and maritime industries. In recent years, it has emerged as a key pillar of Iran’s cooperation with Asian partners, particularly India.

 

Parallel to port development, Chabahar’s rail connectivity is nearing completion. Officials say the Chabahar–Zahedan railway project has exceeded 90 percent physical progress, with the remaining track-laying expected to be completed soon. The line is projected to enter trial operations in the coming months, a step that could substantially enhance Chabahar’s role in regional transit corridors linking South Asia to Central Asia and beyond.