On Monday, India signed a 10-year deal with Iran to operate the Chabahar port, which is located in Chahabar, Iran. However, the United States government did not like the initiative and warned that if any country goes on a business deal with Tehran, they are going to face possible sanctions. S Jaishankar reacted to the US comments about India and commented on the Chabahar port deal between India and Iran.
The warning comes after the US imposed new restrictions on Iran after they promised and aimed to strike Israel with their unmannered aerial vehicle. The External Affairs Minister of India, S. Jaishankar, emphasized the importance of the port and also pointed out that even the US valued the importance of Chabahar port in the past.
S Jaishankar on the US remarks about India
On Tuesday, EAM S. Jaishankar was in Kolkata to launch the Bengali edition of his book ‘Why Bharat Matters’, and he interacted with the press media on the launch of his book. He even reacted to the US remarks about India and said that he did see some remarks that were made by the US about India.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: On US’s remarks on Chabahar port, EAM Jaishankar says, “…I did see some remarks which were made, but its a question of communicating, convincing and getting people understand that this is actually for everybodys benefit. I dont think people should… pic.twitter.com/M6wEkzcAae
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2024
But it all comes down to the question of how they can communicate, convince, and inform the Indian people about the importance of the Chabahar port deal, which is going to benefit a lot of Indian and Iranian people. He also concluded that people should respect the decision and not withdraw it. He even said that even the US appreciated Iran’s Chabahar port in the past, and they said that it’s going to benefit the nation a lot if anyone collaborates with Iran on this port.
He also slammed western media about interference in Indian elections, saying “those who go to court to decide their election verdict should not preach us”.
BIG: Dr. S. Jaishankar hits out at the West🇺🇸🇨🇦 & Western Media for trying to influence India & during 🇮🇳 elections endorsing candidates. “Countries who go to court to decide their elections are giving us Gyaan on how to conduct our own elections. Mind games are being played.” 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yDHTHkuKNk
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) May 14, 2024
US Authorities On Iran’s Chabahar Deal
On the same day, the US threatened that if any country works on a business deal with Iran, they are going to face possible sanctions in the future. Vedant Patel, the representative of the US State Department, said that they were aware that India had signed a deal with Iran to work on the Chabahar port. He says that they respect the foreign policy of India and their mutual relationship with Iran.
But he further asssured that the US will continue to sanction Tehran and it will always imposed on them until they declines to strike back against Israel. Patel was even asked about a possible sanctions on India and he replied that ‘Any entity, anyone considering business deals with Iran, they need to be aware of the potential risk they are opening themselves up to, potential risk of sanctions.’
S. Jaishankar on the Chahabar Port Deal with Iran
On Monday, the long mutual contract on the Chabahar Port operation was signed between Iran’s Port & Maritime Organisation (PMO) and India’s Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL). The agreement allows the joint operation of the Shahid-Behesti port in Iran as a crucial part of the project development of the Chahabar Port in the next 10 years.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that ‘We have had a long association with the Chabahar Port, but we could never sign a long-term agreement. The reason was…there were various problems on the Iranian end…the joint-venture partner changes, the condition changed.’ He said that the Indian government solved the issue between both countries and gave the benefit to the entire region.
The Chabahar Port Deal Between India and Iran
The Chabahar Port deal is a massive project for both nations, and it will benefit them in many ways, such as by acting as an important transportation center for trading with landlocked nations in Central Asia and Afghanistan.
However, India played a crucial role in the development and joint operation of Iran’s Chabahar Port by investing in its infrastructure and facilities to make it a more economical route for Indian exports transported to Central Asian nations and Afghanistan.
