India, Iran close to finalising long-term agreement on Chabahar port
Hindustan TimesIndia and Iran are close to striking a long-term agreement for operations at the strategic Chabahar port, with the matter held up only by differences on a clause related to arbitration, people familiar with the matter said. The Chabahar port agreement figured in discussions during shipping and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s visit to Iran last month. The long-term agreement, valid for a period of 10 years and to be extended automatically, is meant to replace an initial pact which covered India’s operations at Shahid Beheshti terminal in Chabahar port and has been renewed on an annual basis. The long-term agreement figured in discussions during shipping and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s visit to Iran last month, especially his meeting with Iran’s urban development minister Rostam Ghasemi. India remains “fully committed to develop the Chabahar port to realise the vision” outlined during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Iran in 2016, Sonowal said at the time.