Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.21
By Elnur Baghishov, Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
Chabahar port has been exempted from sanctions, as it is of great significance for many countries, said Deputy Head for Maritime Affairs of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization Hadi Haghshenas.
He noted that although 200 Iranian ships came under sanctions, no Iranian port or port operator has been sanctioned, ILNA reported.
What makes the Chabahar port stand out is that all ships can get to this harbor, according to Haghshenas.
“Chabahar is an important east-west corridor. India can easily deliver all necessary goods to Afghanistan via this port,” he said.
Haghshenas went on to add that Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization is currently implementing a project for development of the Chabahar port. Its first phase for transshipping 6 million tons of goods from Indian ports to Chabahar and then to Afghanistan is ready.
“The capacity of Chabahar port has been increased from 2.5 million tons to 8.5 million tons. The port’s capacity will be increased to 77 million tons with the implementation of the fourth phase. Its capacity can be increased further in the case of necessity,” he added.
He went on to add that Iran’s maritime and ports industry gains on average $2 per ton of transited goods through the country’s territory. “The total volume of revenues from the transit of goods will be much higher.”
The US, which has allowed India to continue importing oil from Iran, has granted a waiver from sanctions for New Delhi’s role in the Chabahar port and the construction of a railway line from the Iranian port city to the Afghan border.
The waiver would make funding India’s role in the port, which is the country’s gateway to Eurasia and key to the development of landlocked Afghanistan, less tricky.