US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected suggestions that India and Iran are moving towards a trade agreement following.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Speaking to The Brian Kilmeade Show, Rubio said he was not aware of any trade deal between New Delhi and Tehran. His comments came amid reports that the two countries could be exploring greater economic cooperation after the Modi-Pezeshkian meeting.
- “I don’t think there’s a trade deal between India and Iran,” Rubio said.
- Rubio Warns Countries Against Helping Iran
While acknowledging that countries are free to pursue their own foreign policies and maintain diplomatic contacts with Tehran, Rubio warned governments against helping Iran circumvent US sanctions. He said US President Donald Trump had been clear that countries should not establish financial or trade mechanisms that allow Iran to generate revenue that Washington believes could be used to support terrorism or advance its nuclear programme.
“If countries decide to do that, then we’re going to have to sanction them too,” Rubio said.
Rubio also noted that Washington itself has maintained contact with Iranian representatives during diplomatic discussions, stressing that communication with Tehran does not necessarily amount to supporting its policies.
US Says Iran Will Not Be Allowed Nuclear Weapons
Rubio said preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a central priority for the Trump administration. “Iran will never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, certainly not as long as President Trump is in office,” he said.
According to Rubio, the US will continue to rely primarily on economic pressure and sanctions but has not ruled out military action if Washington determines that it is necessary to prevent Iran from posing a threat to the US or other countries.
He accused Tehran of directing financial resources towards supporting armed groups and pursuing its nuclear ambitions rather than addressing the needs of the Iranian population.
US-Iran Tensions Intensify
Rubio’s remarks came as tensions between Washington and Tehran remained high following some of the heaviest fighting in weeks. Trump said US forces had carried out a “very heavy attack” against Iranian targets and warned that American forces were prepared to launch further strikes if necessary.
Iran, meanwhile, signalled that it had adopted a new approach to the conflict. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran’s strategy would focus on the battlefield, diplomacy and resistance to economic pressure.
The US has also pledged to intensify economic pressure on Iran and warned countries and entities assisting Tehran that they could face American sanctions.
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