Did India Withdraw From Chabahar Port? MEA Reacts To Sanctions, Says Talks On With US

Last Updated:January 16, 2026, 17:44 IST

Donald Trump said on January 12 that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25 per cent tariff on all trade with the United States.

The United States reimposed sanctions on Chabahar from September 29, 2025.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India remains in touch with the United States to work out arrangements related to the sanctions waiver for Iran’s Chabahar port. Responding to reports that India’s role in developing the strategic port had effectively collapsed, the MEA said the United States Department of the Treasury had issued a letter on October 28, 2025, outlining guidance on a conditional sanctions waiver that remains valid until April 26, 2026.

“As you are aware, on 28 October 2025, the US Department of Treasury had issued a letter outlining the guidance on the conditional sanctions waiver valid till 26 April 2026," the MEA said, adding, “We remain engaged with the US side in working out this arrangement."

The clarification follows an Economic Times report that said India’s strategic play at Chabahar had been severely undermined after US President Donald Trump said on January 12 that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25 per cent tariff on all trade with the United States.

The United States reimposed sanctions on Chabahar from September 29, 2025. However, based on details submitted by India on how it planned to wind down activities at the port, including at the Shahid Beheshti terminal, the Office of Foreign Assets Control granted a six-month exemption. The waiver came into effect on October 29, 2025 and remains valid until April 26 this year.

The MEA also said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had spoken to Iran’s foreign minister, during which the Iranian side shared developments from the recent past related to Chabahar.

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