September 3, 2026: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed speculation that India and Iran are preparing to conclude a trade agreement following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
In an interview with The Brian Kilmeade Show, Rubio said he did not see any indication that India was preparing to enter into a trade deal with Iran, according to a report published by Indian news outlet NDTV on Thursday.
Rubio acknowledged that countries make decisions based on their own foreign-policy interests, noting that nations around the world maintain varying levels of diplomatic and international engagement with Iran. He also pointed out that Washington itself has held discussions with the Iranian government.
At the same time, however, Rubio warned that the United States could take action against countries that help Iran circumvent American sanctions.
“No country should be helping Iran evade sanctions. And if a country chooses to do that, then we will have to impose sanctions on them as well,” Rubio said.
He cautioned against providing Tehran with opportunities to generate revenue by bypassing sanctions or creating channels that could facilitate the financing of terrorism.
Rubio also reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains one of the Trump administration’s key objectives. While Washington is primarily seeking to exert economic pressure on Tehran, he said the United States reserves the right to take military action if necessary.
The comments come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. After six months of heightened confrontation, U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged overnight strikes by American forces and warned that further attacks could follow.
In response, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, wrote on social media platform X that Iran’s new strategy would “crush the foundations of Washington.”
Rubio’s remarks underline Washington’s continued scrutiny of Iran’s international economic ties and its determination to prevent Tehran from using foreign trade relationships to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
Source: NDTV