Gwadar and Chabahar not enemy ports: Iranian ambassador

The Iranian ambassador said recently that the Chabahar port would not turn out to be an enemy port to Gwadar but would serve as a 'friend' port.

Addressing a press conference, Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost said that some countries were against the Chabahar port and Pakistan had an indication of that. He further stated that Chabahar port would not function as an enemy port for Pakistan's Gwadar port.

India signed the historic Chabahar deal with Iran and Afghanistan a couple of days ago. India is investing $500 million in the Chabahar port to operate it. This would enable India to have a better trade route to Afghanistan, as opposed to the land route through Pakistan.

Experts and analysts have viewed this deal as a challenge on India's part to China. Through the Chabahar deal, India will counter China's growing influence in the region. China and Pakistan signed the historic CPEC deal last year. 

The United States has given voice to its suspicion of Tehran but nonetheless it has backed the Chabahar port deal.