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Afghanistan asks India to expedite Chabahar port development

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Afghanistan asks India to expedite Chabahar port development

The Afghans see the route central to their hope of streamlining trade with India and boosting access to markets in Europe and the Middle East

Afghanistan has urged India to speed up development of Iran’s strategic port of Chabahar which is on a course to open a transport corridor to landlocked Central Asian nations.

Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani met India’s Union minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi, on Monday, and the two sides exchanged a number of agreements.

Afghans see the route central to their hope of streamlining trade with India and boosting access to markets in India, Europe, the Middle East, and the world beyond.

The port would also allow India to transport goods to Afghanistan by sea and provide access to Central Asia.

On Monday, Swaraj told Rabbani that India would step up the development work and begin supplying wheat to Afghanistan within weeks through Chabahar.

India is said to have committed up to $500 million for development of Chabahar along with associated roads and rail lines but an Iranian developer said on Monday that the Indian investment is only $85 million.

Managing Director of Aria Banader Iranian Co. Yaser Ebrahimi said his company has undertaken to supply land and sea equipment for the port under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement worth $403 million.

“Indians are expected to invest only $85 million in Chabahar, and this is not a big figure compared to $403 million of investment being made by Aria Banader.”

However, the state-owned Indian company India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), which is developing Chabahar, will provide $150 million in finance to the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran for purchases, Ebrahimi said.

Speaking to reporters in Chabahar on Monday, the official outlined some of the equipment supply deals which his company has signed with the firms dominating the market for customized equipment to develop jetties and container terminals.

The first batch of equipment worth $21 million arrived in Chabahar from Germany in February last year, which included 9 Liebherr cranes, he said.

The second batch worth $10 million, including 13 reach stacker vehicles for handling intermodal cargo containers, is about to arrive from Germany on Tuesday.

And the third batch worth $20 million is for joint production of grain suction equipment by Germany’s NAIRO and Iran’s Machine Sazi Arak, Ebrahimi added.

Another German company is building two marine exploration and rescue boats with the participation of Iran’s Defense Industries Organization, he said, stating that a Dutch company is jointly building other equipment.

“We make all our purchases through international tenders, and we buy only from the manufacturer without any intermediaries,” the official said.

Foreign manufacturers are required to partner with Iranian parties. Ebrahimi cited Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex, SADRA Iran Marine Industrial Company, Iran’s Defense Industries Organization and Machine Sazi Arak among the local companies which are carrying out joint ventures.

Iranian companies are also building a mechanized cereals storing silo with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes and a 5,000-megawatt power station in Chabahar.

“Currently, the overall development of the Chabahar port under Aria Banader’s $403 million contract is estimated at 37%,” Ebrahimi said.

His account of physical progress contradicts Western media reports that manufacturers were shying away from supplying equipment for development of Chabahar for fear the United States may reimpose sanctions on Tehran.

They have specifically cited Swiss engineering group Liebherr, Finland’s Konecranes and Cargotec to have turned down requests to take part in the bids because their banks allegedly were not ready to facilitate transactions involving Iran.

Latest world news

PM Modi arrives in France for G7 Summit 2026, Trump meeting scheduled on Wednesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in France for the G7 Summit 2026. A bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump is expected during the summit as leaders discuss major global economic and security challenges.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Évian, France, on Tuesday to participate in the G7 Summit 2026, marking the final leg of his two-nation Europe visit. World leaders have gathered in the French town for discussions on major global challenges, including economic growth, security, technology and international cooperation.

The summit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with developments related to Iran, Ukraine and global economic stability expected to feature prominently in discussions among leaders.

A bilateral meeting between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump is expected on Wednesday on the sidelines of the summit. According to reports, the two leaders are likely to discuss trade, investment, energy cooperation, supply chains, artificial intelligence and broader strategic issues.

Ahead of the summit, PM Modi had said India would represent not only its own interests but also the aspirations of the Global South. India has consistently used international forums to raise issues affecting developing nations, including sustainable development, economic resilience and equitable global growth.

French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the three-day summit in Évian, where leaders from G7 nations and invited partner countries are taking part in a series of formal sessions and bilateral engagements. India is among the invited outreach partners attending the gathering.

The expected Modi-Trump meeting is attracting significant attention as it would be their first face-to-face interaction since recent discussions over trade and strategic cooperation. Officials have indicated that economic ties, visa-related matters and regional security issues could feature in the talks.

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Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

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Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

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LATEST SPORTS NEWS

USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

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The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

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