Top of the Morning : Adani Gets Clean Slate | US Sanctions Iran Port - Big Blow For India | UK Lands £150bn US Investment

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.Alliances Redrawn: Pakistan & Saudi’s Security PactRiyadh and Islamabad just inked a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, pledging to treat an attack on one as an attack on both. Pakistan formalizes decades of unofficial military support, gaining Saudi investment, while Saudi taps Pakistan’s nuclear and military heft. India, already deepening defense ties with Riyadh, is left rethinking strategy.Chabahar Shock: India’s $250M Gamble at RiskThe US revoked sanctions relief on Iran’s Chabahar Port, effective Sept 29. For India, Chabahar is a crucial link to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. Now New Delhi faces a brutal choice: risk US sanctions or abandon years of investment and regional influence.Lavrov Fires Back: Ancient Civilizations Won’t BowRussia’s Sergey Lavrov mocked Washington’s tariff threats, defending India and China as “ancient civilizations” that won’t bend. With Trump slapping 50% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, Lavrov warned America’s pressure play may be backfiring.Adani Cleared: Loopholes and LessonsSEBI just gave Gautam Adani a clean slate after Hindenburg’s allegations. Turns out Adani did route funds via intermediaries, but it wasn’t illegal then. Rules only tightened in 2021. The case exposes how corporate giants exploit regulatory gaps—and why timing is everything.Britain’s £150bn MirageLondon hailed massive US investment pledges—Microsoft (£22bn), Google (£5bn), Blackstone (£90bn). But job losses outpace promises, and giants like Merck and AstraZeneca are fleeing. Critics say the UK risks becoming a launchpad for US firms, not a growth hub itself.