US exempts India from sanctions for Chabahar Port

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) has exempted India from imposition of certain sanctions for the development of the strategically-located Chabahar Port in Iran, along with the construction of the railway line connecting it with Afghanistan, a state department spokesperson said.

The decision by the Trump administration, which a day earlier imposed the toughest ever sanctions on Iran and is very restrictive in giving exemptions, is seen as a recognition by Washington of India’s major role in the development of the port on the Gulf of Oman, which is of immense strategic importance for the reconstruction of wartorn Afghanistan.

“After extensive consideration, the secretary (of state) has provided for an exception from imposition of certain sanctions under the Iran Freedom and Counter-proliferation Act of 2012, with respect to the development of Chabahar Port, construction of an associated railway and for shipment of non-sanctionable goods through the port for Afghanistan’s use, as well as the country’s continued imports of Iranian petroleum products,” a state department spokesperson said.

The US on Monday imposed

sanctions that cover Iran’s banking and energy sectors and reinstate penalties for countries and companies in Europe, Asia and elsewhere that do not halt Iranian oil imports.

However, secretary of state Mike Pompeo said that eight countries – India, China, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey – were temporarily allowed to continue buying Iranian oil as they showed “significant reduction” in oil purchase from the Persian Gulf country.

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