$120 million dedicated to Chabahar port in Iran utterly paid: India

The federal government on Friday (February 6, 2026) informed Parliament that it has utterly paid up its dedication of $120 million for Chabahar port, nicely earlier than the U.S. sanctions waiver runs out in April 2026.

Iran’s Ambassador to India, nevertheless, stated that the federal government has not thus far conveyed its plans for the way forward for the port, at the same time as Opposition MP Manish Tewari accused the federal government of appearing prematurely to “decide out” of the port deal.  

The federal government’s assertion, that comes days after it ended its annual price range allocation for Chabahar port within the annual Price range for 2026-27, signifies will probably be unable to handle the port until the U.S. withdraws sanctions. Fairly than threat a drawn-out course of later, the federal government seems to have disbursed its whole standing dedication, made in a 10-year MoU with Iran, signed in Might 2024.

‘Dedication fulfilled’

“India has fulfilled its dedication of contributing USD 120 million for the procurement of port tools,” the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) stated in its response to a question within the Lok Sabha.

“Pursuant to discussions with the U.S. facet, the [U.S.] issued steerage extending the conditional sanctions waiver till 26 April 2026. The Authorities of India stays engaged with all involved with a purpose to deal with the implications of those developments,” the MEA stated.

‘Untimely withdrawal’

The Ministry was replying to particular questions from Congress MP Manish Tewari on whether or not it had determined to scale back its engagement with the Chabahar challenge and withdrawn personnel from the port. Mr. Tewari accused the federal government of “formally giving up” on plans for the warm-water port on Iran’s south-eastern coast, which India started to develop in 2003.  

“India could have acted prematurely by opting out of the Chabahar Port challenge that will have been an essential catalyst even within the re-engagement with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, along with retaining the doorways to Central Asia open,” Mr. Tewari informed The Hindu, pointing to U.S.-Iran talks that started in Oman on Friday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened main strikes on Iran in response to its crackdown on protestors, however U.S. and Iranian officers met in Oman to try to keep away from an escalation in tensions. Together with sanctions that might be applied over the Chabahar challenge, the U.S. has additionally threatened India with 25% tariffs if it continues to commerce with Iran. Since 2019-2020, when Mr. Trump had threatened sanctions, India has additionally “zeroed out” all oil imports from Iran, and has not restarted them.

Iran awaits India’s transfer

Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali informed journalists on Friday (February 6, 2026) that he believes Delhi want to try to resolve the difficulty with out giving up its curiosity in Chabahar. India has been utilizing the port for entry to Afghanistan, to move humanitarian help and meals provides.  

Dr. Mohammad Fathali, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, addressing a information convention at Embassy of The Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi on Friday, February 6, 2026.
| Picture Credit score:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

“We’ve a great relation with India on this challenge, and we imagine that the Indian authorities desires to handle this [port],” Mr. Fathali stated at a press convention.

“It’s as much as any nation that wishes to make use of it, significantly India, to determine [its plans]. So this query must be requested to [the Indian government]. Till now, now we have no feedback from the Indian facet [on this issue],” Mr. Fathali stated, in response to questions concerning the authorities’s strikes on Chabahar.

He additionally stated {that a} potential go to by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, for the BRICS summit in India later this yr, can be a “good alternative for enhancing [Iran’s] relations with India”.