India Exempted from Imposing Certain Sanctions over Chabahar Port in Iran

Guwahati: India is exempted by the United States from imposing certain sanctions for the development of the strategically-located Chabahar port in Iran. Along with this, India is also exempted from the construction of the railway line connecting Afghanistan.

This decision by the Trump administration came following another toughest sanction by the US on Iran. This decision by the US might be seen as a response to India's role in the development of the port on the Gulf of Oman. Notably, the port in Iran is of immense strategic importance for the development of war-torn Afghanistan.

A State Department spokesperson said, "After extensive consideration, the Secretary (of State) has provided for an exception from imposition of certain sanctions under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, with respect to the development of Chabahar port, construction of an associated railway and for shipment of non-sanctionable goods through the port for Afghanistan's use, as well as the country's continued imports of Iranian petroleum products."

The toughest ever sanction imposed by the US on a defiant Iran aimed at changing the Iranian regime's "behaviour". These sanctions cover the banking and energy sectors of Iran and reinstate penalties for countries and companies in Europe, Asia.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that eight countries, namely, India, China, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey were allowed on a temporary basis to continue buying Iranian oil as they showed "significant reduction" in oil purchase from the Persian Gulf country.

A US spokesperson adds, "This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief."

The recent decision of exempting India from imposing certain sanctions for the development of the port has come following a Donald Trump announcement which was made in August. The announcement by the US president said that India plays a major role in bringing peace and development in Afghanistan.

The spokesperson said, "The president's South Asia strategy underscores our ongoing support of Afghanistan's economic growth and development as well as our close partnership with India. We seek to build on our close relationships with both the countries as we execute a policy of maximum pressure to change the Iranian regime's destabilising policies in the region and beyond."

Also read: India, Iran, Afghanistan discuss Chabahar port