ALBAWABA - At a US State Department briefing on Monday, US spokesperson Vedant Patel threatened that if India struck "business deals" with Tehran, Washington would impose a new bundle of sanctions.
On Monday, Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and Iran's Port & Maritime Organisation (PMO) signed a Long-Term Bilateral Contract to operate Chabahar Port, Iran's lone ocean port.
This contract authorizes the operation of the Shahid-Behesti port inside the Chabahar Port Development Project for a period of ten years.
During the 10-year deal, IPGL pledged to invest around $120 million to improve the port's facilities. Furthermore, India has given a $250 million credit window for joint projects aimed at improving the infrastructure associated with Chabahar.
Patel stated that the restrictions imposed by Washington on Tehran remain in effect and will be upheld, and he refused to exempt New Delhi from this accord.
"We are aware of these reports that Iran and India have signed a deal concerning the Chabahar Port," Patel stated. "Any entity, anyone considering business deals with Iran, they need to be aware of the potential risk they are opening themselves up to, potential risk of sanctions," he added.
Patel stated that the restrictions imposed by Washington on Tehran remain in effect and will be upheld, and he refused to exempt New Delhi from this accord.
"US sanctions on Iran remain in place and we will continue to enforce them," he stated. Patel also stated that it would allow the Indian government to speak about its foreign policy aims.
"I will let the government of India speak to its own foreign policy goals vis-à-vis the Chabahar port as well as its own bilateral relationship with Iran," Patel stated during the press conference.
