On September 17, the US announced the end of the sanctions waiver related to Iran’s Chabahar Port. The waiver — in place since 2018 when President Donald Trump (in his first term) unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and launched a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran — allowed New Delhi to develop and operate the port. In his second presidential term, Trump resumed his coercive diplomacy with Iran.

In February 2025, when he asked for a review of the waivers, India faced tough choices. Having signed a 10-year bilateral contract with Iran in May 2024 to develop and operate the port, India focussed on using Chabahar to enhance its connectivity with Eurasia. Meanwhile, New Delhi also viewed its partnerships with the US, the EU, Saudi Arabia, and Israel in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as crucial to counter China’s growing influence in West Asia. Since then, West........

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