Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 17: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday clarified that the Chabahar Port terminal in Iran has not suffered any damage, dismissing concerns over reports suggesting that the strategic facility had been targeted during recent military strikes.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government had taken note of reports circulating about an alleged attack near the port but confirmed that the terminal used by India remained unaffected.
Responding to questions regarding reports linked to a social media post by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Jaiswal said India has been closely monitoring the situation.
"With regard to Chabahar, the US sanctions waiver granted earlier had expired some time ago, and since then we have been engaging with relevant stakeholders on the way forward. We have seen reports suggesting an attack, but we can confirm that the Chabahar terminal itself has not sustained any damage," he said.
Earlier in the day, Hegseth shared an image on social media showing a structure collapsing amid continued US strikes on Iran. However, the post did not identify the location or confirm that the image was linked to Chabahar Port.
India had received a six-month waiver from US sanctions for operations at Chabahar Port in October last year, allowing continued development work until April 29.
In May, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi described Chabahar as a symbol of the long-standing partnership between India and Iran, expressing confidence that the port would emerge as a key gateway connecting India with Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe.
He acknowledged that US sanctions had slowed the pace of development but voiced hope that India would continue investing in the strategically important project.
Calling Chabahar a vital transit hub, Araghchi said the port would strengthen regional connectivity by facilitating trade between India, Central Asia, Europe and countries bordering the Indian Ocean. He also praised India's constructive role in promoting diplomacy, peace and regional stability.
India and Iran had earlier signed a 10-year agreement for the operation of Chabahar Port, under which India committed USD 250 million in credit support for infrastructure development.
The two countries are also working on plans to connect the port with Iran's national railway network through a 700-km rail corridor linking Chabahar to Zahedan, a project expected to significantly enhance regional trade and connectivity.