Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that he hoped the Indians would continue their work at the “very strategic” port of Chabahar. He admitted that progress on the port “has slowed down somehow because of the US sanctions”.
Araghchi called the Chabahar port “a major symbol of cooperation” between Tehran and Delhi and urged India to continue its strategic investments despite increasing pressure from US sanctions.
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“Its progress has somehow slowed down due to the US sanctions… I hope the Indians will continue their work at Chabahar port so that it can be fully developed to serve the interests of India and other countries in the region,” Araghchi said.
Addressing the media after the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, Araghchi also urged India to use its “good reputation” to take a more prominent diplomatic role in stabilizing the volatile West Asian region.
He exuded confidence that “this port will serve as a golden gateway for India to access Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe through this transit route and also for Europeans, Central Asians and others to access the Indian Ocean”.
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“Chabahar port is one of the symbols of cooperation between Iran and India. We are so happy that Indians have played an important role in the development of this port,” Araghchi said.
Araghchi continued to focus on the long-term economic promise of the project, calling it a “golden gateway” for global trade.
“This port will be like a golden gate for India to access Central Asia, the Caucasus and then Europe, and also for Europeans, Central Asians and others to access the Indian Ocean,” the Iranian foreign minister said.
Expressing his strong desire that New Delhi remains committed to the completion of the project, he said, “I hope that Indians will continue their work at Chabahar Port so that it is fully developed in the service of the interests of India and other countries around.”
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The strategic corridor, which serves as India’s vital gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia while also bypassing Pakistan, faces fresh hurdles after exemptions from US sanctions expired on April 26 this year.
The US warned in 2024 of the “potential risk of sanctions” against “anyone considering trade deals with Iran” after India and Iran signed a “long-term master agreement” to build the Shahid Beheshti port terminal in Chabahar, Iran.
Later, in the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not allocate any funds for Chabahar Port in Iran. The budget document revealed that while Bhutan received the highest allocation at ₹2,288 crore, Chabahar Port did not receive any funds, unlike previous years.
“India is a friend…”
Apart from economic ties, Araghchi praised India’s balanced diplomatic approach amid ongoing regional frictions.
He suggested that New Delhi is uniquely positioned to act as a peacemaker in the Persian Gulf, a region currently caught in the crossfire of tensions between the US and Iran.
“I think India with its good reputation can play a bigger role in this region to help diplomacy, promote peace and strengthen security,” Araghchi said.
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He added, “India is a friend of almost all countries in the Gulf, both north and south of the Gulf. So we appreciate any positive and constructive role that India plays in the region.”
While Araghchi welcomed India’s “positive constructive role”, he struck a harsher tone about Washington, describing the current ceasefire as on “unclear foundations”.
He directly blamed the Trump administration as the “primary obstacle” to regional harmony.
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He reaffirmed Tehran’s resilience, saying: “There is no military solution to anything related to Iran. They (the US) have tested us time and time again. We will never bow to any pressure or threat.”
