Iran and India have agreed to clear pending obstacles at the Chabahar port, a key trade gateway linking India to Afghanistan and Central Asia. The understanding was reached during high-level talks in Tehran.

Chabahar Port Authority chief Seyyed Ali Abdali said Iran is working to remove bottlenecks in cargo handling and equipment supply. The two sides also discussed penalties linked to earlier delays in the project.

India signed a 10-year agreement in 2024 to operate the port’s Shahid Beheshti terminal. New Delhi has committed 120 million dollars in equipment and a 250 million dollar credit line for the project.

The port lets India bypass Pakistan to reach Afghan and Central Asian markets. Progress has been slow because of US sanctions on Iran, which have scared away some suppliers and shippers.

Officials said a joint working group will meet soon to track the pending issues. Both countries called Chabahar a strategic asset and said they want it fully operational at the earliest.