The US has warned India of the risk of possible sanctions after New Delhi signed a pact with Iran on Chabahar port. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference that Washington was aware that Iran and India had signed a deal concerning the Chabahar port for a period of 10 years.
"We're aware of these reports that Iran and India have signed a deal concerning the Chabahar port. I will let the government of India speak to its own foreign policy goals vis--vis the Chabahar port as well as its own bilateral relationship with Iran," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference.
"I will just say, as it relates to the United States, US sanctions on Iran remain in place and we'll continue to enforce them," he said in response to a question on India's deal with Iran on the strategic Chabahar port.
"You've heard us say this in a number of instances, that any entity, anyone considering business deals with Iran, they need to be aware of the potential risk that they are opening themselves up to and the potential risk of sanctions," Patel said.
This comes as India signed a 10-year contract with Iran on Monday to develop and operate the Iranian port of Chabahar, a move which would strengthen bilateral relations with Tehran.
The Chabahar port, situated on Iran's south-eastern coast along the Gulf of Oman, will help India transport goods to Iran, Afghanistan and central Asian countries. This way, India can bypass the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in Pakistan.
According to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, a long-term agreement with Iran to manage the Chabahar port will bring in more investments in the port and open up new trade connections to India in the region.
"Chabahar Port's significance transcends its role as a mere conduit between India and Iran; it serves as a vital trade artery connecting India with Afghanistan and Central Asian Countries," India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in Tehran, after the signing of the agreement."
