![\"Is](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/11\/Is-Iran-Regime-Benefitting-From-the-Exemption-of-Chabahar-From-US-Sanctions.jpg\" "\\"Is-Iran-Regime-Benefitting-From-the-Exemption-of-Chabahar-From-US-Sanctions\\"")
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By Shahriar Kia<\/p>\n
The Foreign Ministry of US recently announced that Chabahar Port is exempted from its new round of sanctions (November 6th, 2018).<\/p>\n
As evident by its recent TV programs, Iran\u2019s government considers this decision a retreat from US, in other words, a victory for itself: \u201cFollowing the disagreement of other countries with US, the American government had to exempt Chabahar from the new round of sanctions. Which the US Foreign Ministry pertains to its support for Afghanistan\u2019s economy\u201d (Channel one of Iran\u2019s TV; November 7th, 2018).<\/p>\n
A closer look<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the truth? What\u2019s the real reason US decided to exempt Chabahar from its sanctions? And what\u2019s in it for Iran\u2019s mullahs now?<\/p>\n
The Chabahar Port is a seaport in southeast of Iran, on the Gulf of Oman; it is of strategic significance because it connects India to Afghanistan as well as other countries within the Middle East. It is of special importance to India because the distance between India\u2019s port and Iran\u2019s port is quite short, which subsequently reduces the transportation costs of goods (to a third of the usual costs!). India finds this beneficial because it can use this port to get rid of its competitor, i.e., Pakistan, from the transportation deals with Afghanistan and other countries.<\/p>\n
India has reportedly invested 500 million dollars on Chabahar\u2019s development project, and another 1.5 billion dollars on the roads and railways that link it to other countries.<\/p>\n
One of US spokesmen recently addressed the two main foundations that comprise their US government\u2019s strategy with regards to South Asia: (1) improving the economic growth of Afghanistan, and, (2) tightening the relationship between US and India.<\/p>\n
The truth from Iran\u2019s perspective<\/p>\n
Entekhab website recently wrote: \u201cthe exemption of Chabahar from US sanctions is due to the ongoing efforts of New Delhi and Kabul, and their strong impact on Washington\u201d (November 10th, 2018).<\/p>\n
Jahan-e-Sanat also commented: \u201cgiven India\u2019s competition with China, US wouldn\u2019t want to jeopardise India\u2019s position, and instead, wants to use Chabahar\u2019s exemption to leave China behind\u201d; and that \u201cIn the long run, the port may serve as an efficient pathway for the trades between Kabul, Tehran, and New Delhi, but this won\u2019t be the case in the short term. Because US will influence Iran\u2019s actions in a way that Iran won\u2019t be able to use its port\u2019s exemption to circumvent the sanctions\u201d.<\/p>\n
IRNA added: \u201cthe importance of Chabahar has been mentioned in multiple meetings between the Indian and American officials; in the two talks between New Delhi and US, Chabahar was specifically brought up to Brian Hook\u201d (November 10th, 2018).<\/p>\n
According to the media resources of Iran\u2019s regime, Chabahar\u2019s exemption from the sanctions have nothing to do with US retreating, but rather, has to do with US consideration for its relationship with India, Afghanistan, and others alike. Having said that, some parties of Iran\u2019s regime continue making every effort to make things look in their favour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Shahriar Kia The Foreign Ministry of US recently announced that Chabahar Port is exempted from its new round of sanctions (November 6th, 2018). As evident by its recent TV […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":52314,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[178],"class_list":{"0":"post-25514","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-economy","8":"tag-save"},"yoast_head":"\n