US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed suggestions that India was looking to enter a trade agreement with Iran following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Team Trump member, however, warned nations against helping Iran evade American sanctions, saying they could themselves face US penalties in doing so.
He acknowledged that countries pursued independent foreign policies and maintained contacts with Tehran. Rubio noted that Washington itself had communicated with representatives of the Iranian government. Iran and the United States continued trading threats after some of the heaviest fighting in weeks engulfed the Middle East, deepening the foes’ stalemate six months into the war.
“Well, I don’t think there’s a trade deal between India and Iran,” Rubio said in an interview with The Brian Kilmeade Show. “I think what ultimately happens though is — and the President’s been very clear — is no country should be helping Iran evade sanctions,” he said. The Trump administration official said preventing Tehran from possessing a nuclear weapon remains the main objective of 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. President Trump said US forces staged a “very heavy attack” on Iranian targets overnight and are “prepared to do another one any time we want.”
