NEW DELHI – The United States has exempted India from imposition of certainsanctions for the development of the strategically-located Chabahar port inIran, along with the construction of the railway line connecting it withAfghanistan.
The decision by the Trump administration, which a day earlier imposed thetoughest ever sanctions on Iran and is very restrictive in givingexemptions, is a seen as a recognition by Washington of India’s role indevelopment of the port on the Gulf of Oman, which is of immense strategicimportance for the development of war-torn Afghanistan.
“After extensive consideration, the Secretary (of State) has provided foran exception from imposition of certain sanctions under the Iran Freedomand Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, with respect to the development ofChabahar port, construction of an associated railway and for shipment ofnon-sanctionable goods through the port for Afghanistan’s use, as well asthe country’s continued imports of Iranian petroleum products,” a StateDepartment spokesperson told PTI.