India is frustrated! Who would have thought the U.S. would bomb Iran's Chabahar Port! On July 17, according to foreign media reports, the U.S. continues its strikes against Iran. To further undermine Iran’s near-sea anti-ship and drone warfare capabilities, the U.S. military has expanded its air raids to the vicinity of Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran. This time, the U.S. directly destroyed coastal radar systems and maritime control facilities near the port. Although the commercial port area of Chabahar was not bombed, the port is clearly no longer safe.

In fact, even during periods of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, the United States had previously shown leniency toward Chabahar Port, specifically granting sanctions exemptions and tacitly allowing India to invest in its development. In Washington’s calculations, this route to Central Asia could serve as a counterbalance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. India precisely recognized America’s strategic intent and has consistently poured funds into building the port, aiming to create a trade artery bypassing Pakistan and directly reaching Afghanistan and Central Asia—engaging in quiet competition all along.

Now, however, the U.S. has indiscriminately launched attacks. Under continuous artillery threats, shipping companies naturally dare not dock at Chabahar Port, leading inevitably to a sharp contraction in trade activities there. Meanwhile, Gwadar Port, located just about 75 kilometers in a straight line from Chabahar Port and only around 100 kilometers by sea route, remains calm and unaffected by the conflict.

Evidently, India had meticulously planned its strategy—but overlooked one crucial issue: security. Even more frustrating for India is that it cannot hold the U.S. accountable. It's likely that countries have now clearly seen that although both ports appear functionally similar on the surface, their real differences are profound. In short, safety is paramount. After this round of U.S. airstrikes, it's possible that an increasing volume of freight will shift to Gwadar Port instead.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870923650944011/

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