Chabahar Port

Chabahar Port is a major seaport in southeastern Iran, located on the Gulf of Oman. It is Iran's only oceanic port and has two sections called Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti, each with five places where ships can dock. The port is about 170 kilometres west of the Pakistani port of Gwadar.

The idea to build the port was first suggested in 1973 by the last Shah of Iran, but work started later due to big changes in the country. The first part of the port opened in 1983 during a war between Iran and Iraq. Iran wanted to move its sea trade closer to Pakistan to stay safe from attacks.

India and Iran worked together to improve the port, especially one part called Shahid Beheshti. The port helps trade between India and Afghanistan because it is much closer to Afghanistan than Pakistan's main port, Karachi. In 2017, India sent its first ship of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port. However, special rules called sanctions made it hard for companies to help grow the port, so only a small part of its capacity was used.

Location

The Chabahar Port is found on the Makran coast of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, right next to the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz. It is Iran's only port that can reach the Indian Ocean directly. Because it is close to Afghanistan and countries like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, it is called the "Golden Gate" for these areas without seas.

Chabahar is far from big cities such as Zahedan, Milak, and Sarakhs. It is also not too far from places like Dubai, Karachi in Pakistan, and Mumbai in India. The port of Gwadar in Pakistan is very close, only 76 nautical miles away.

Since most of Iran’s people live in the west, the east, where Chabahar is, is less developed. Iran plans to grow this area by building a free trade zone and connecting roads and railways to Central Asia. Chabahar can handle big ships, unlike the busy port of Bandar Abbas, which needs help from the United Arab Emirates for large ships. This helps Iran trade better and keep more money.

History

A very old port named Tis once stood near Chabahar, dating back to ancient times. Later, in the 1500s, Portuguese forces controlled the area until the 1600s.

The modern Chabahar Port began in the 1970s when Iran started big construction projects there. Today, it has two main ports called Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti, with several long docks for ships. In recent years, India has helped develop the port to support trade with nearby countries like Afghanistan.

India–Iran–Afghanistan partnership

In the 1990s, Iran, India, and Russia worked together to support a group in Afghanistan. Iran then invited India to help develop the Chabahar port to make it easier to reach Afghanistan. In 1997, the three countries agreed to work together to increase trade with Central Asia. In 2000, they made another agreement to create a transportation route between India and Europe.

After American forces arrived in Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Afghanistan agreed in 2003 to work together on transportation links. India agreed to expand the Chabahar port and build a railway to Zaranj. Iran built roads connecting to Chabahar, linking to major cities in Afghanistan. In 2012, ships from India brought wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar.

In 2016, India agreed to invest $8 billion in Chabahar and nearby areas, including building factories. India also built roads connecting Afghanistan and Iran and planned a railway to a large iron mine in Afghanistan. This helps India reach Afghanistan and countries further north, like Turkmenistan, without relying on Pakistan.

In May 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed an agreement allowing Indian goods to travel to Afghanistan through Chabahar. India will develop parts of the port and modernise equipment to increase its capacity. This agreement includes financial support from India to Iran and plans for new industries near the port.

The three countries also planned to invest over $21 billion in connecting Chabahar to important areas, including a large iron mine in Afghanistan. This will make shipping cheaper and faster from India to Central Asia and Europe. The Chabahar route will cut shipping costs by 60% and time by 50% compared to other routes.

Transport infrastructure

Chabahar–Zahedan–Bam–Hajigak Railway

India once planned to build a long railway from Chabahar to a place in Afghanistan rich in minerals. In 2011, Indian companies got rights to mine this area. India promised to spend a lot of money to help build the needed roads and railways. In 2016, India started sending railway parts and promised more money for the project.

But in 2020, Iran decided to build the railway on its own because India was taking too long to send the money. Iran hopes to finish the railway by 2022 using its own funds. When done, this railway could connect Chabahar to other parts of Iran's railway system.

Mashhad–Herat–Mazar-i-Sharif Railway

See also: Rail transport in Afghanistan § Afghanistan–Iran rail service

A railway from Mashhad in Iran to Herat in Afghanistan has several parts. Some parts in Iran and Afghanistan were finished between 2016 and 2017. Herat is already connected to Turkmenistan by rail and road. India and Afghanistan plan to extend the railway from Herat to Mazar-i-Sharif. Mazar-i-Sharif is linked to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan by rail and road.

Private sector investments

India's minister said Indian companies might invest a lot of money in the Chabahar Special Economic zone, but this depends on Iran offering natural gas at lower prices. In 2017, India asked private companies to express interest in managing the port for ten years. Some big Indian companies showed interest. India also started training Afghan customs officials and planned to begin shipments to Afghanistan through Chabahar soon.

Security

Chabahar Port is protected by military bases in Konarak, Iran, located across Chabahar Bay to the west. However, its use as a connection to Afghanistan and Central Asia can be limited because of ongoing instability in Afghanistan.

Roads linking Chabahar to Afghanistan depend on the Afghan Ring Road. In August 2016, activity by the Taliban caused the road between Kandahar and Helmand Province to close. After the Taliban took control in Afghanistan, another group called IS-KP became a security concern in the area.

The area around Chabahar, in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, has also seen actions by groups like Jundallah, which says it is working for the rights of Sunni Muslims and local ethnic Baloch people. In the 2020s, a related group called Jaish ul-Adl has carried out attacks in the area known as the Baloch insurgency.

Misinformation

There have been some false stories trying to hurt Iran's work with other countries on the Chabahar Port. In July 2025, the Iranian Embassy in India talked about false messages on social media about the agreement between India and Iran for the Chabahar Port. Some fake accounts, which looked real, were trying to make people believe that Iran was changing its mind about the agreement. The embassy showed pictures of these accounts and said they were trying to cause trouble between the two countries by sharing wrong information.

Strategic implications

The Chabahar Port in Iran is important for trade and connections in the region. Some experts think that countries like India and China are trying to support their own interests by building ports, which can make other countries feel worried. India wants to use Chabahar to get resources from nearby countries and to connect better with Afghanistan, reducing its reliance on Pakistan.

Iran sees Chabahar as a way to strengthen its role in the area. It has worked with nearby countries to build railways, pipelines, and other connections. Iran hopes Chabahar will help link India, Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries more closely, supporting trade and travel across the region.