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Following reports of US military strikes damaging infrastructure near Iran's Chabahar port, India's MEA clarified on 17 July 2026 that the Shahid Beheshti terminal operated by India remained undamaged, while reiterating that civilian infrastructure should not be targeted in conflicts.
India operates the Shahid Beheshti terminal through India Ports Global Ltd under a 10-year contract signed with Iran in May 2024, prepaying $120 million to shield the project from US sanctions penalties.
Chabahar gives India a Pakistan-bypass trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and counters China's Gwadar port, just 140 km away.
The US sanctions waiver for Chabahar — first granted in 2018 and reinstated for six months in October 2025 — expired on 26 April 2026, leaving India's operational control over the project uncertain.
US withdraws from the Iran nuclear deal, imposes sanctions, but grants a targeted waiver for Chabahar
US withdraws the Chabahar sanctions waiver
US reinstates the waiver for six months
The reinstated waiver officially expires
MEA confirms India's terminal undamaged after reports of US strikes near the port
GS Paper II/III > India's Foreign Policy, Connectivity Projects, International Relations
International North-South Transport Corridor — a multi-modal network linking India, Iran, Russia, Central Asia and Europe
The Indian public-sector entity operating the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar