Iran and India had previously launched shipping lines
between Chabahar and the Indian ports of Mumbai, and Mundra.
The first shipping route between the two countries was put
into operation in 2017 between Iran’s Chabahar port and Mumbai.
In January 2019, Iran and India inaugurated the second
direct shipping route which passes through Mumbai, Mundra, Kandla, Chabahar,
and finally Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.
India is using the mentioned shipping routes to transit
goods to Afghanistan and Persian Gulf nations as well as the countries in
Central Asia.
Through Chabahar port India can bypass Pakistan and
transport goods to Afghanistan and Central Asia, while Afghanistan can get
linked to India via sea.
Iran has awarded India the project for installing and
operating modern loading and unloading equipment including mobile harbor cranes
in Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar.
The strategic Chabahar port in southeastern Iran is the only
ocean port on the Makran coast and it has a special place in the country's
economic affairs.