Overview
- India’s foreign ministry confirmed a six-month exemption effective October 29, enabling India Ports Global Ltd to continue operating the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar.
- The US had revoked the 2018 exception effective September 29 under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act as part of President Trump’s maximum pressure policy.
- According to people familiar with the talks, a short initial waiver preceded the formal six-month approval, and OFAC had earlier directed a wind-down through October 28.
- India signed a 10-year pact in May 2024 to run the terminal and invest in equipment, with Chabahar positioned as a node for the International North-South Transport Corridor.
- New Delhi says trade negotiations with Washington are continuing and it is studying recent US sanctions on Russian oil firms; some commentary frames the short waiver as leverage, which officials have not confirmed.