India-Iran talks: US diplomat Rubio says he sees no trade deal, warns Tehran supporters of sanctions

Washington DC: America's top diplomat has spoken out on the recent meeting between India and Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he does not believe the two nations are currently working on a trade deal. However, he warned that any country helping Iran to bypass US sanctions could face penalties of its own.

These comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The two leaders met to talk about trade, bilateral relations, and the tense situation in West Asia.

The US warning on sanctions

Speaking on The Brian Kilmeade Show, Rubio was asked if India and Iran were establishing a trade agreement. He responded, "Well, I don't think there's a trade deal between India and Iran."

The US Secretary of State acknowledged that countries must build their own paths. "Obviously, there are – countries all develop their own foreign policy, and many countries around the world talk to the Iranian regime," he added. He even noted that the US itself has had contact with Iranian officials during certain discussions.

Despite this, Rubio made America’s boundary very clear. He said President Donald Trump is firm that no country should help Iran evade 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. And if countries decide to do that, then we're going to have to sanction them too," Rubio warned.

What happened at the summit

Meanwhile, India is focused on building its relationship with Iran. After the meeting, PM Modi took to social media to share details of their talks.

"Met President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek. Reiterated our commitment to strengthening India's long-standing friendship with Iran across diverse sectors. We want to expand and diversify our trade basket in the times to come," the Prime Minister posted on X.

The two leaders also talked about the ongoing conflict in West Asia. PM Modi expressed India's support for efforts to bring lasting peace. The Ministry of External Affairs described the discussions as "fruitful".

Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India believes regional issues must be solved through "dialogue and diplomacy". He emphasized the need to protect commercial shipping and the safety of seafarers during the current conflict.

To close their meeting, PM Modi invited the Iranian President to visit India next week. President Pezeshkian is expected to attend the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, scheduled for September 12 to September 13.