Tasnim � An Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson called on the US administration to exempt Iran�s southeastern port city of Chabahar from a new wave of economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

In comments on Saturday, Sebghatullah Ahmadi, head of the press department at Afghanistan�s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said his country heavily relies on the Iranian port of Chabahar to improve its economy.

Afghanistan asks the US for the exemption of Chabahar port from anti-Iran sanctions, he said, adding that Afghan sectors have been exempted from US punitive measures in the past, Aria News reported.

Meanwhile, vice chairman of Afghanistan�s Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Khan Jan Alokozay, emphasized that Afghanistan should sign memoranda of understanding with Iran and India to enjoy the benefits of using the port of Chabahar.

Chabahar is the closest and best access point of Iran to the Indian Ocean and the country has devised serious plans to turn it into a transit hub for immediate access to markets in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and Central Asia.

It aims to create a reliable transport corridor for the smooth transport and transit of goods and services through Chabahar Port between Afghanistan, India, and Iran.