Rubio Denies Trade Talks At Modi-Pezeshkian Meet, Warns Nations Not To Help Iran Evade Sanctions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said he did not believe India and Iran were discussing a trade deal, while warning countries against helping Tehran bypass US sanctions.

Rubio made the remarks during an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio, when asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.

“Well, I don’t think there’s a trade deal between India and Iran. Obviously, there are – countries all develop their own foreign policy, and many countries around the world talk to the Iranian regime,” Rubio said.

Responding to the suggestion that PM Modi and Pezeshkian appeared to be setting up a trade

deal, Rubio added: “I mean, we’ve met with elements of the Iranian regime as well, in terms of some of these discussions that have occurred and there’s been contact with them.”

Rubio Warns Of US Sanctions

Rubio said US President Donald Trump had made Washington’s position clear: countries should not help Iran find ways to evade US sanctions.

“No country should be out there helping them create mechanisms by which they can generate revenue that they will then use to sponsor terrorism and try to build a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said.

“And if countries decide to do that, then we’re going to have to sanction them too,” he added.

His comments come as India maintains diplomatic and economic ties with Iran while also engaging with the US amid the wider war in West Asia.

What Happened At Modi-Pezeshkian Meet?

PM Modi met Pezeshkian in Bishkek on Monday for their first bilateral talks since the Iran-US conflict began in February.

During the meeting, Modi said India wanted to “expand and diversify” its trade basket with Iran and reiterated New Delhi’s support for efforts towards lasting peace in West Asia.

The two leaders also discussed the conflict and the need to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure and freedom of navigation.

Pezeshkian urged PM Modi to use India’s wide-ranging contacts with countries involved in the conflict to encourage dialogue and help end the fighting.

India has also continued discussions with Iran and other stakeholders over the future of Chabahar port, a key connectivity project involving the two countries that has faced uncertainty due to US sanctions.

New Delhi has maintained that disputes in the region should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, while seeking to protect its trade, connectivity and wider strategic interests.

(With inputs from PTI)