Why India risked US sanctions and inked Chabahar Port pact with Iran

A day after India and Iran signed a 10-year contract to operate the strategic Chabahar port, the United States on May 14 warned that any country having business dealings with Tehran runs the “potential risk of sanctions”.
US sanctions on Iran over its suspected nuclear programme had slowed the development of the port.

“We're aware of these reports that Iran and India have signed a deal concerning the Chabahar port. I will let the government of India speak to its own foreign policy goals vis-a-vis the Chabahar port as well as its bilateral relationship with Iran,” US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters.