Chabahar's Shahid Beheshti terminal unharmed: India after US bombs port
India on Friday said the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Iran's Chabahar port has not suffered any damage in the recent US strikes on the key
India on Friday said the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Iran's Chabahar port has not suffered any damage in the recent US strikes on the key maritime gateway. The clarification came after US officials acknowledged that Chabahar was hit this week as part of Washington's renewed military campaign against Iran. Chabahar, which is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade, is also central to efforts by both countries to make it part of the International North-South Transport Corridor.
India said it was in touch with relevant stakeholders on the way forward after a US sanctions waiver for Chabahar ended in April. Read Full Story Responding to a question on the US attacks on the port, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "There was a waiver which was given by America and that waiver got over some time back. Post that, we have been in discussion with relevant stakeholders as to how to take this particular issue forward." He added, "On the question of it being attacked, yes, we have seen some reports in that regard, but we can also tell you that the terminal itself did not face any damage." Chabahar has two terminals, Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari, and India was operating the Shahid Beheshti terminal.
Jaiswal also reiterated India's position on the ongoing hostilities in West Asia, saying civilian infrastructure should not be targeted under any circumstances. The port gives India direct access to Afghanistan by bypassing Pakistan, which does not allow India land transit routes. It also strengthens India's trade access and reduces dependence on traditional maritime chokepoints. The 7,200-km International North-South Transport Corridor is a multi-mode freight route connecting India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe, with Chabahar seen as an important part of that wider connectivity plan.
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