Akbar Torqan: The Management of Chabahar Port Has Been Transferred to the Indians

Three months after the signing of the 'Chabahar Agreement' between Iran, India, and Afghanistan, the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Zones in Iran announced that the 'management' of Chabahar Port has been transferred to India 'for a specified period and according to a formula.' Akbar Torqan said on Tuesday, September 6, that the agreement 'for the transfer of this port with specified conditions and duration' was signed during the visit of the Indian Minister of Transport to Tehran with the Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development. According to Mr. Torqan, all ships except for 300,000-ton oil tankers can unload and load at Chabahar. He added that 'currently there are six berths at Chabahar Port, and we want to increase these berths to 22 to enhance the capacity of this port and accommodate 300,000-ton oil tankers.' The Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Zones in Iran did not provide further details about how the port would be managed by India, especially regarding the duration and formula of its management. The strategic agreement to establish an international transport corridor known as the 'Chabahar Agreement' was signed on May 23 of this year in the presence of the Presidents of Iran and Afghanistan and the Prime Minister of India in Tehran. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that his country would invest $500 million in the development of Chabahar, constructing and managing the port. This agreement sparked protests from several American senators. In May 2015, the Indian Minister of Transport and the Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development also signed an $85 million contract to lease two existing docks at Chabahar Port, which are to be used as multi-purpose cargo unloading terminals. India seeks to access the markets of Afghanistan and Central Asia through Chabahar Port, a route that has been blocked due to its proximity to Pakistan and political tensions with that country. Iran and India had also reached an agreement in 2003 to expand Chabahar Port, but the project was significantly delayed due to sanctions against Tehran. Over the past year, the Chabahar Free Zone has allocated 50 hectares of land on the Makran coast to Afghan traders, and 130 companies have been registered in Chabahar by Afghan nationals. Meanwhile, Mr. Torqan said on Tuesday that the government has prioritized investment in the Makran coast due to the 'emphasis' of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called for the 'development' of the Makran coast in cooperation with the government and armed forces on November 30, 2014. The Makran coast is located in southeastern Iran, adjacent to the Sea of Oman, and is part of the Sistan and Baluchestan province, which is considered one of the poorest regions of the country. In this context, India approved a $150 million project for the development of Chabahar Port.