Sat Feb 08 19:59:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s “Maximum Pressure” on Iran Renews Uncertainty for India’s Chabahar Port
**New Delhi, February 9, 2025** – President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on applying “maximum pressure” on Iran, specifically targeting the Chabahar Port, has cast a shadow over India’s strategic investment in the vital Gulf of Oman facility. The February 4th Presidential National Security Memorandum (PNSM-2) has raised concerns in New Delhi, as Chabahar serves as India’s first international port and a crucial alternative trade route to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and beyond.
Chabahar’s significance for India stems from its role in bypassing Pakistan’s land and sea routes. The port has been developed over decades, with increased Indian involvement beginning in the 2010s, boosted by a trilateral agreement with Iran and Afghanistan in 2016. While the U.S. initially encouraged Indian investment in Chabahar as a tool for leveraging negotiations with Iran, Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA and subsequent sanctions created challenges.
Despite sanctions, India secured waivers to continue humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts through Chabahar, leading to increased trade and aid between 2018 and 2024. Recent investments, including a 10-year contract signed in May 2024 for approximately $120 million in port equipment and a $250 million credit window, signaled India’s continued commitment. India aims to integrate Chabahar into the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to facilitate trade with Central Asia and Russia.
However, Trump’s latest memo directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to potentially revoke sanctions waivers, including those related to Chabahar. This development, coming shortly before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s U.S. visit, raises the possibility of renewed negotiations for an exception. The extent to which the Trump administration is willing to compromise remains unclear, leaving the future of India’s substantial investment in Chabahar uncertain.
First Piper 