This is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1103 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 5, 2025, regarding the revocation of sanctions waiver on Chabahar Port. Shri S Jagathratchakan asked the Minister of External Affairs about the revocation of the waiver exemption issued under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act by the U.S.A., the economic and political implications of the revocation, the total amount invested in the Chabahar port by India since 2018, and the measures taken to overcome the revocation of the waiver exemption.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, responded that the U.S. Administration mandated the U.S. Secretary of State to modify or rescind sanctions waivers through National Security Presidential Memorandum [NSPM-2] on February 4, 2025, including those related to Iran's Chabahar port project. The U.S. State Department revoked the 2018 waiver on September 16, 2025, effective since September 29, 2025. The Government of India had invested nearly USD 120 million for the supply of equipment for the port. Following India's representation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a Letter on October 28, 2025, stating that activities at the Chabahar Port will not be exposed to U.S. sanctions until April 26, 2026. The Government of India remains engaged with the U.S. State Department and Treasury in working out this arrangement.
Key Entities Referenced
Chabahar Port: A port in Iran that India has invested in and is subject to sanctions waivers and revocations.
Ministry of External Affairs: The Indian ministry responsible for answering questions related to the Chabahar Port sanctions waiver revocation.
Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act: The US act under which waivers for Chabahar Port were originally issued.
United States of America: The country revoking the sanctions waiver on the Chabahar Port.
National Security Presidential Memorandum [NSPM-2]: US Presidential Memorandum that mandated the modification or rescinding of sanctions waivers related to Iran, including Chabahar Port.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1103
ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2025
REVOCATION OF SANCTIONS WAIVER ON CHABAHAR PORT
1103. SHRI S JAGATHRATCHAKAN
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government is aware of the recent revocation of
waiver exemption issued earlier under the Iran Freedom and
Counter-Proliferation Act by the United States of America;
(b) if so, the economical and political implications of the revocation
by the U.S.A.;
(c) the total amount invested in the Chabahar port by India since
2018; and
(d) whether the Government has taken any adequate measures to
overcome the revocation of the waiver exemption?
1ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to d) Yes Sir. On 4th February 2025, the U.S. Administration
through its National Security Presidential Memorandum [NSPM-2]
mandated the U.S. Secretary of State to modify or rescind sanctions
waivers, particularly those that provide Iran any degree of economic
or financial relief, including those related to Iran’s Chabahar port
project. As a follow up to the NSPM-2, on 16 September 2025, the
U.S. State Department revoked the 2018 waiver, effective since 29
September 2025.
Government of India had invested nearly USD 120 million for the
supply of equipment for the port, which was instrumental in
providing humanitarian and other types of emergency assistance to
Afghanistan.
Following India’s representation, the U.S. Department of the
Treasury on 28th October 2025 issued a Letter stating that activities
at the Chabahar Port will not be exposed to U.S. sanctions till 26
April 2026.
The Government of India remains engaged with the U.S. State
Department and Treasury in working out this arrangement.
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