New Delhi, Sept. 21 -- The US's move to revoke the sanctions waiver for Iran's Chabahar Port has cast uncertainty over India's regional trade strategy. The waiver had allowed Indian firms to operate the port free of US curbs, enabling New Delhi to pursue access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. Its withdrawal now clouds prospects for trade continuity, connectivity, and India's wider strategic ambitions.

What is the issue?

Chabahar Port, located on Iran's southeastern coast along the Gulf of Oman, is India's key maritime gateway to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia. In 2018, the US granted an exemption to Indian entities under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA), allowing them to invest in ...