Chabahar Port and India's Connectivity Strategy
Chabahar Port, located on Iran's southeastern coast on the Gulf of Oman, is India's most significant overseas port investment. India — through India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) — operates the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar under a 10-year agreement signed in May 2024. The port bypasses the Strait of Hormuz entirely (accessed from the Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea) and provides India access to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Eurasian market via Iran's road and rail network.
- Location: Gulf of Oman (south coast of Iran); does NOT transit the Strait of Hormuz
- India's operating agreement: 10-year deal signed May 2024 (India Ports Global Limited)
- Strategic purpose: Access to Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics (CAR), and connectivity to INSTC
- India has invested ~$500 million in Chabahar development
- The US granted Chabahar a sanctions waiver in 2018 and 2023, recognising its humanitarian and connectivity value for Afghanistan
- Chabahar gives India the ability to supply Afghanistan and reach Central Asia independently of Pakistan — a critical geopolitical objective
● Tracked since March 15, 2026 · last seen July 21, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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