New Delhi: Tehran believes that the Indian government is keen to “manage the situation” surrounding its continued use of the port at Chabahar, Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said Friday.
Fathali’s comments come after the Indian government transferred $120 million to Iran in the last few months, to complete its financial commitments at the Shahed Beheshti Terminal in Chabahar. The port, located on the southeastern coast of Iran, had received a long-term sanctions waiver from the US, which was not extended last year. However, the US did give India a temporary waiver for six months that is valid till 26 April 2026.
“Chabahar is Chabahar. The location will not change. Some countries use this location to access Central Asia. We have good relations with India on this issue. I believe that the Indian government wants to manage the situation,” Fathali said at a press conference in the national capital.
The Iranian ambassador added: “Chabahar is built entirely by our capacity. If some country wants to use this capacity, then you should ask these countries. We have heard no comments from India on this.”
The port has long been a strategic priority for India. In 2024, India signed a long-term memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran to operate the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at the port. However, the agreement was based on the sanctions waiver issued by the US administration in 2019.
Last year, US President Donald Trump returned to the White House and took his “maximum pressure” against Iran up a gear, removing the waiver for the port. It is situated on the Gulf of Oman and is an integral route for India to send goods to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.
India had gained a temporary six month waiver in October 2025, and quietly transferred the financial commitments made in 2024 and began winding up its operations in the port. However, the Indian government remains engaged with the US to negotiate a longer extension of the waiver.
The economic linkages between India and Iran have been hit by the imposition of sanctions by the US. India’s oil purchases from Iran have dropped to almost nil since 2019. India continues to export agricultural and food products, which is outside the ambit of the sanctions.
Fathali, however, noted that New Delhi and Tehran continue to maintain “good ties” and have a long-standing relationship.
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‘Eight of 16 Indian sailors freed’
Fathali also highlighted that eight Indian sailors of the 16 detained by Iranian authorities in December have been freed and should be returned to the country soon. The remaining eight remain in the country to operate the ship Valiant Roar, embassy officials informed ThePrint.
The sailors were detained in international waters near the Emirati port of Dibba on 8 December, after Iranian authorities alleged the vessel was carrying around five million litres of smuggled diesel fuel. India received consular access to the 16 Indian crew members recently. Two other crew members on the Valiant Roar are from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Of the remaining Indian crew members in Iran, embassy officials informed ThePrint that they will be released once the Iranian authorities are able to verify the origins of the fuel carried in the vessel. If the fuel is found not to be of Iranian origin, the ship will be released, else it will be seized and the crew released. The remaining crew members are required to operate the Valiant Roar, embassy officials informed ThePrint.
Tehran alleges Mossad role in protests
The Iranian ambassador, when questioned on the protests that broke out in Iran at the end of December 2025 due to the economic situation, pointed out that the violence was largely orchestrated by outside actors, including Israel’s Mossad.
Fathali said that 3,117 people lost their lives during the protests, which is the official numbers released by the Iranian government recently. The protests saw the heavy use of force by the government to suppress the situation. Around 10,000 Indians live in Iran.
“Now, fortunately our situation is normal in our country. We are facing a hybrid war. Announcement of officials from some countries particularly the Zionist regime — our agents are among the protesters — unfortunately, we have so much evidence that some elements are instructed by foreign forces. Now the situation is normal,” said Fathali.
Tehran is currently locked in negotiations with Washington Friday on its nuclear programme in Oman. The Iranian ambassador said that Tehran is negotiating solely on its nuclear programme and no other issues are being discussed in Oman.
(Edited by Shashank Kishan)
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