Despite the recent tension between Iran and US, the Iranian Ambassador to India, Dr. Ali Chegeni, said on Wednesday that the Chabahar port project will not be affected.
“Chabahar Port is a symbol of very good friendship between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, whole Persian Gulf. It does not belong only to Iran and India. Chabahar will go on, don’t worry about it” Chegani said, as reported by ANI.
“We are not looking for war. We are living in this region peacefully with our brothers and sisters including India. We don’t want any tension/escalation in this region,” he said.
The killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani has once again raised concerns about the completion of the strategic Chabahar port.
On January 3, Soleimani, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike when he was leaving Baghdad International Airport.
The US claimed responsibility, with the Pentagon asserting that the strike “was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans.”
India is now hosting Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif next week to explore options to safeguard Chabahar port as well as its energy and financial interests amid the escalating tensions, according to Anadolu Agency report.
At the second two-plus-two dialogue between India and the US on Dec. 18-19 in Washington, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper handed over a written assurance to their Indian counterparts that they facilitate the development of the Iranian despite US sanctions against Iran.
