India Had Two Trade Routes. The Iran War Killed One.

India built two strategic trade corridors to reach the world. INSTC - through Iran to Russia and Central Asia, anchored on the Indian-operated Chabahar Port ($370M Indian investment, rail bypassing Pakistan). IMEC - through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel to Europe, signed at the G20 in New Delhi in September 2023. Timeline - Feb 25, 2026: PM Modi addresses the Israeli Knesset - Feb 28, 2026: US + Israel strike Iran - April: Brent crude spikes near $138/barrel; Hormuz disrupted - Apr 26, 2026: Washington lets India's Chabahar sanctions waiver expire - May 2026: Chatham House confirms India is reducing Chabahar funding; Chabahar-Zahedan railway faces 'indefinite delays' India had two routes. India picked one. Sourced from Chatham House (May 2026), CSIS, Atlantic Council, AGBI, India MEA Chabahar briefings, EIA Hormuz transit data. Follow Money Maps for more geopolitics, mapped out. #Shorts