Washington is never lost in its desire to retain its strategic interests in South Asia. Trump's revocation of sanctions waiver for India on Iran's Chabahar Port and his pushback to regain access to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan are tools of re-engagement in the region. As far as withdrawal of the waiver under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act is concerned, it is a blow to New Delhi and comes at a time when India and the US are in locked a duel over trade and tariff concessions. The intention, as far as the US is concerned, is to retain maximum pressure over the Islamic Republic in its endeavour to stop it from going nuclear.

The waiver rebuff will surely come as a challenge for India to protect its investment in the Chabahar Port to the tune of $120 million. It had also made

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