India's Iran Dilemma: Protests Threaten Chabahar Port, Energy Security, and Geopolitical Balance

• India views Iran as a critical geostrategic bridge, essential for overland access to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Russia, bypassing Pakistan.
• The Chabahar Port, a $500 million Indian investment, is central to this relationship and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
• Ongoing protests in Iran, with internet blackouts and supply chain disruptions, threaten the timely completion of key infrastructure projects like the Chabahar-Zahedan rail link.
• Iranian instability adds a geopolitical risk premium to global oil prices, impacting India's energy security and current account deficit.
• India navigates US sanctions and potential tariffs on its exports while seeking a stable Iran to counter rivals like China in the Persian Gulf.

Why It Matters: Iran's instability poses significant threats to India's strategic connectivity, energy security, and regional geopolitical interests.