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On Friday, the Central Command of the US military released footage showcasing a precise strike on a significant Iranian surveillance installation located at the Shahid Kalantari Port in Chabahar. This operation is said to have considerably diminished the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) capacity to monitor and target ships navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. Chabahar port, situated on the Gulf of Oman, is a crucial trade hub.

According to a post by US CENTCOM on X (formerly Twitter), "On July 16, U.S. forces successfully destroyed the Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower, which has been part of a maritime surveillance network utilized by the IRGC for decades to track and target commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz." They further stated, "The destruction of this tower directly hampers the IRGC’s ability to coordinate attacks on innocent civilian crew members. Additionally, this strike safeguards the freedom of navigation in regional waters for all vessels, except those attempting to breach the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran."

While Iran has characterized the tower as overseeing commercial traffic into the port, reports indicate that the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is active at various ports throughout the nation. Chabahar port, which has been developed with assistance from India, has faced multiple American airstrikes in the past.

On the same day, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that discussions regarding India's strategic interests in Chabahar Port are ongoing with relevant parties following the expiration of the US sanctions waiver. They also assured that the terminal at the port has not sustained any damage despite the recent American strike reports. Jaiswal stated, "Regarding Chabahar, if you have been following the issue, there was a waiver granted by the American side, which expired some time ago. Since then, we have been in discussions with the relevant stakeholders on how to take this matter forward."