U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States does not believe India and Iran are negotiating a trade deal, after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. Speaking in an interview, Rubio directly addressed reports and speculation about a potential agreement.
Rubio also reiterates that President Donald Trump’s administration warns other countries not to help Iran circumvent U.S. sanctions. He cautions that any efforts to create mechanisms for Iran to generate revenue could trigger additional sanctions, which he links to risks including terrorism financing and nuclear proliferation.
The outlets frame Rubio’s comments as a response to Modi’s remarks following the meeting. Modi says India wants to “expand and diversify” its trade relationship with Iran across sectors. While some reporting focuses on the prospect of a broader trade agenda after the leaders’ meeting, Rubio characterizes the U.S. position as firm and says there is no trade agreement underway.
Despite differences in how they emphasize the speculation versus the sanctions warning, the sources converge on Rubio’s denial of active India-Iran trade talks and his message that countries should not assist Iran in dodging U.S. sanctions.
