MEA says Chabahar port terminal remains undamaged after reported US strikes

Chabahar Port Terminal Undamaged After US Strikes, Says MEA

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday clarified that the Chabahar Port terminal in Iran has not suffered any damage following reports of US airstrikes targeting infrastructure near the strategically important facility.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, said India had taken note of reports regarding the strikes but confirmed that the operational terminal at the port remained unaffected.“On your question about the reported attack, yes, we have seen those reports. However, we can confirm that the terminal itself did not suffer any damage,” Jaiswal said.The clarification came after reports suggested that US strikes had damaged infrastructure near Chabahar Port, including a surveillance tower overlooking commercial shipping activity. After Chabahar and Mongla Setbacks, Why Indonesia's Sabang Port Is India's Crucial New Maritime Frontier Iranian state media confirmed that the port area had been targeted in another round of US attacks but did not immediately verify reports about damage to the tower.Iranian authorities said the tower was used to monitor commercial vessels entering the port. However, some Iranian ports also have a presence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).The reported strikes were part of a wider US military campaign against Iranian infrastructure amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. The escalation has raised concerns over the safety of strategic infrastructure and shipping routes across the Gulf region.Jaiswal also said India continues to engage with relevant stakeholders regarding the future of the Chabahar Port project following the expiry of the US sanctions waiver that previously allowed New Delhi’s participation.Govt Prepares To Sell Stake In Chabahar Port To Iranian Entity As Relief From US Sanctions Ends On Sunday The MEA spokesperson said discussions are underway on how to take forward India’s involvement in the project, adding that no changes have been announced in India’s engagement with the port.Located on Iran’s southeastern coast along the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar Port is a key element of India’s regional connectivity strategy. The facility provides India direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asia without relying on routes through Pakistan.The port has been viewed as a strategic gateway for trade and connectivity in the region. India has invested in developing the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar as part of efforts to strengthen commercial links with Central Asia and Afghanistan.The latest developments come amid heightened US-Iran military tensions, with concerns growing over possible disruptions to regional trade routes and infrastructure.

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India-Operated Terminal At Iran's Chabahar Port Not Damaged In US Strikes: MEA

Chabahar provides India with direct access to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan, which denies India land transit routes.

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Chabahar Port terminal unharmed, says MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday clarified that the Chabahar Port terminal did not suffer any damage, addressing reports that had suggested the strategic Iranian port may have been affected in a recent attack.Responding to questions during a media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government had taken note of the reports but confirmed that the terminal remained intact."On your question about the reported attack, yes, we have seen those reports. However, we can confirm that the terminal itself did not suffer any damage," Jaiswal said.The clarification comes after reports that US airstrikes on Friday appeared to have brought down a surveillance tower at Iran's Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, a strategically important maritime gateway that serves as a key trade route for Afghanistan.US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shared an image showing the tower apparently collapsing, a visual that had earlier circulated on social media through activist accounts.Iranian state media acknowledged that the port had come under a third round of US strikes, though it did not immediately confirm the reported collapse of the tower.Iranian authorities have described the structure as being responsible for monitoring commercial shipping entering the port. The country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also maintains a presence at ports across Iran.Meanwhile, on the status of the Chabahar Port project, Jaiswal said India has remained engaged with relevant stakeholders following the expiry of the US sanctions waiver linked to the project."Regarding Chabahar, if you have been following the issue, there was a waiver granted by the American side, which expired some time ago. Since then, we have been in discussions with the relevant stakeholders on how to take this matter forward," he said.The Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran is of strategic importance to India as it provides access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. New Delhi has continued diplomatic engagement on the future of the project after the lapse of the US waiver, while maintaining that the operational terminal has not been affected by the latest reported attack.

21 hours ago