Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 3: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said he does not believe India and Iran are currently negotiating a trade deal, while warning countries against helping Tehran evade US sanctions.
Rubio made the remarks during an interview with The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio, while responding to a question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
“I don’t think there’s a trade deal between India and Iran,” Rubio said, adding that countries have the right to pursue their own foreign policies and maintain contact with the Iranian government.
However, he stressed that the US would not allow any country to assist Iran in circumventing sanctions. Rubio warned that countries found helping Tehran evade the restrictions could themselves face sanctions.
He said the US believes Iran should not be assisted in creating mechanisms to generate revenue that could be used to support terrorism or develop nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pezeshkian met on Monday on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in the Kyrgyz capital. It was their first meeting since the beginning of the US-Iran conflict, which has disrupted global supply chains and contributed to a rise in crude oil prices.
During the meeting, Modi reiterated India’s support for efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in West Asia. He also conveyed India’s interest in expanding and diversifying its trade basket with Iran.
Pezeshkian, meanwhile, urged Modi to use India’s extensive diplomatic contacts with various parties to help bring an end to the conflict.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the region and reiterated India’s position that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Prime Minister also called for safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce and stressed that civilians, civilian infrastructure, commercial shipping and seafarers must not be targeted.