WANA (Sep 19) – The U.S. State Department announced that the sanctions waiver granted to India in 2018 for operations at Iran’s Chabahar Port has been revoked. The decision, part of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, will take effect on September 29.

 

The waiver was originally issued to support Afghanistan’s reconstruction and regional economic development. With its cancellation, operators of Chabahar Port and related entities will now be subject to U.S. sanctions.

 

Deputy State Department spokesperson Toukas Pigott said in a statement: “In line with the President’s maximum pressure campaign, the Secretary of State is revoking the waiver issued in 2018 under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act. This decision, effective September 29, will subject port operators and others engaged in covered activities to sanctions under this law.”

 

The State Department further claimed the move targets “financial networks linked to Iran’s armed forces.” The statement added: “Today, the United States is taking action against an illicit financial network, along with several individuals and entities in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, that facilitated the sale of Iranian oil. Proceeds from these sales benefit the IRGC Quds Force, Iran’s Ministry of Defense, and the Armed Forces Logistics, which in turn support proxy groups and weapons development that threaten U.S. forces and allies.”

 

Indian media described Washington’s move as a blow to New Delhi’s strategic investments in Chabahar, warning that the decision could significantly disrupt India’s logistics and trade projects tied to the port.

 

Chabahar, located in southeastern Iran near Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, is of major strategic and logistical importance. It includes two terminals—Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti—each with five berths, offering substantial capacity for cargo operations. Under a 10-year agreement signed in 2014, India took over management of the Shahid Beheshti terminal.

chabahar Port