India Did What Pakistan Couldn't: How Modi Govt Kept Iran's Chabahar Port Safe During Israel War

News18

2 days ago

Around 170 km from India-operated Chabahar port is Pakistan's Gwadar port, which started to feel the heat of war in spite of not being in Iran
The 12-day Iran-Israel war pushed not just Middle East but Central Asia on the edge. The US and Israel decimated Iran's nuclear facilities, while parts of Tel Aviv started to resemble Gaza, with the incessant rocket firing by Iran, overwhelming Israel's Iron Dome. As global powers got involved, 'World War 3' became the buzzword amid the two countries that consider each other beyond sworn enemies.
However, the Chabahar Port in Iran, a cornerstone of its strategic and economic ambitions to enhance regional connectivity, secure trade routes, and counterbalance geopolitical rivals like China and Pakistan, remained curiously untouched by a missile or drone.
Here's how the Modi government saved it.
Why Does Chabahar Port Matter?
The Chabahar Port, a critical strategic asset for India in southeastern Iran, remained operational and unaffected by the recent Iran-Israel conflict due to several key factors. Despite escalating tensions, including missile exchanges and airstrikes, the port was not directly targeted, allowing its operations and India's investments to remain secure.
Interestingly, 170 kilometers from India-operated Chabahar port is Pakistan's Gwadar port, which started to feel the heat of war in spite of not being in Iran. While Gwadar was operational like Chabahar during the war, Pakistan closed all border crossings with Iran in Balochistan, including those in Gwadar district like Gabd-Rimdan, starting June 15. With no smuggled Iranian oil, a prolonged closure could have further strained the port's role as a trade hub. Food, too, was running short in the district according to local reports.
If Gwadar is a key asset of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chabahar was India's antidote.
India's investments in Chabahar Port, totaling around $550 million, include direct funding for terminal operations, a credit line for expansion, and contributions to the Chabahar-Zahedan railway. These investments have strengthened India's strategic foothold in the region, enhanced trade connectivity, and countered rival ports like Gwadar.
At the peak of the Iran-Israel war, just ahead of Iran contemplating closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical oil and gas shipping route, air freight was said to be up by 15% and ocean freight was up by 1,000 USD/TEU. Even in that volatile market, Chabahar as a port was functioning like any other day.
The Modi Government's Approach
What helped was Modi government's nuanced diplomatic stand where it did not lean heavily towards Israel, in spite of the large online sentiment, while advocating diplomacy. On June 13, 2025, at the onset of the conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a call from Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, where they likely discussed the escalating situation.
On the same day, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, urging Iran to avoid actions that could further escalate the conflict. Later, Modi called Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian, advocating for de-escalation.
A neutral position, unlike the Russia or US, has its benefits too. It saved two ports. Not just Chabahar, but Israel's Haifa where despite Iranian ballistic missiles sprayed and a nearby oil refinery, Iran stayed clear of the Indian investments with cargo operations proceeding normally.