New Delhi: The US struck Iran’s Chabahar port Friday damaging infrastructure at one of the country’s most important maritime gateways, according to Iranian state media and US officials, amid escalations in the West Asia war.
The Chabahar redevelopment project remains key to India’s ambitions to expand its economic and strategic reach into Afghanistan and Central Asia. In January, before the American sanctions were imposed on the port, India transferred its full financial commitment to Iran for the development of Chabahar Port and exited the project.
The American strikes targeted a facility overlooking commercial shipping at Chabahar, a port on the Gulf of Oman that serves as a vital trade corridor for landlocked Afghanistan and has been developed with significant Indian investment.
A watchtower was damaged in the process. Iranian officials quoted in the state-run IRNA described the structure as part of the port’s civilian monitoring system, although the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also maintains a presence at many of Iran’s ports.
Images circulating on social media showed the tower crumpling into a cloud of dust. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later shared one of the images on X with the caption, “Iran does not control the SoH”.
https://t.co/jZlSVRePRC pic.twitter.com/Nj5o0oiphH
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 17, 2026
The US Central Command said its forces had carried out another series of operations to “further degrade Iranian military capabilities.”
Among the reported targets were six bridges in Hormozgan province, an airport, a railway station in the port city of Bandar Abbas and infrastructure near Bandar Khamir, a coastal city overlooking the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes appeared aimed at disrupting transportation routes linking Bandar Abbas, Iran’s principal commercial port, with the country’s interior.
Iran’s Energy Ministry also acknowledged attacks affecting power infrastructure for the first time since the strikes began. Iran responded with missile attacks across the Gulf region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had destroyed two US radar installations in Oman, including maritime and air surveillance sites.
Missiles were also launched toward Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait early Friday. Qatar reported multiple interceptions over its territory, while its Interior Ministry said debris from intercepted missiles injured a child. Jordan’s military said it intercepted three Iranian missiles entering its airspace and reported no casualties.
Explosions were also reported in Bushehr, home to Iran’s only civilian nuclear power plant, where state television said two blasts occurred.
During President Donald Trump’s first administration, the US Treasury excluded Chabahar from sanctions in 2018, recognizing its role in supporting Afghanistan’s economic development.
That position changed during Trump’s second term. In September 2025, the US administration announced it would revoke all remaining exemptions to Iran-related sanctions, including the one covering Chabahar.
The Chabahar port consists of two terminals, Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti, with India focusing its investment on the latter. New Delhi had committed at least $120 million toward developing and equipping the Shahid Beheshti terminal. The project’s future, however, became increasingly uncertain under Washington’s renewed “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: India’s role in Chabahar uncertain, Iran hails critical port as ‘golden bridge’ of Delhi-Tehran ties
What a pity. India’s investment essentially a write off. Plus the alternate access it provided to Afghanistan and Central Asia. This is the wrath of a superpower scorned.