US wans of ‘sanctions’ as India, Iran sign port deal

The United States has warned India of consequences after Narendra Modi-leg government signed the Chabahar Port deal with Iran.

Under the deal, Mumbai administration would run the port for a duration on 10 years.

The signing of the deal comes days after the US announced new sanctions on Tehran, targeting its drone after its attack on Israel.

“We’re aware of these reports that Iran and India have signed a deal concerning the Chabahar port. I will let the government of India speak to its own foreign policy goals vis-a-vis the Chabahar port as well as its own bilateral relationship with Iran,” Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson of the US State Department, said while responding to a question of the agreement between India and Iran.

“I will just say, as it relates to the United States, US sanctions on Iran remain in place and we’ll continue to enforce them,” he added.

When asked about possibility of sanctions against India, Patel said, “Broadly, you’ve heard us say this in a number of instances, that any entity, anyone considering business deals with Iran, they need to be aware of the potential risk that they are opening themselves up to and the potential risk of sanctions.”

The agreement was signed between India’s Ports Global Ltd and Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation.

Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was present on the occasion.  This is the first time India will take over the management of an overseas port.