Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Rubio Questions India-Iran Trade Deal After SCO Meeting
Marco Rubio said he does not think India and Iran are currently making a trade deal.
He was responding to questions about a meeting between Narendra Modi and Masoud Pezeshkian.
The two leaders met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek.
Modi said India wants stronger friendship and more varied trade with Iran.
They also talked about fighting and ways to support peace and stability.
They discussed protecting ships, sailors, and civilians.
Rubio said countries can choose their own foreign policies and many countries talk with Iran.
But he warned that countries helping Iran earn money by avoiding US sanctions could also be sanctioned.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he did not believe India and Iran were discussing a trade deal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Modi said India wanted to strengthen ties with Iran and expand and diversify bilateral trade.
The leaders discussed West Asia, dialogue, peace, regional stability, shipping, and civilian safety.
Rubio warned that countries helping Iran evade US sanctions could themselves face sanctions.
- Who
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian; Indian official Randhir Jaiswal also discussed the meeting.
- What
- Rubio questioned reports of an India-Iran trade deal after Modi and Pezeshkian held bilateral talks.
- When
- Modi and Pezeshkian met earlier in the week; Rubio made his comments on September 2, with reports variously describing the interview as occurring Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Where
- The leaders met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit; Rubio spoke on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio.
- Why
- Rubio was asked whether the meeting signaled a trade deal, while the leaders discussed bilateral relations, trade, and the conflict-related situation in West Asia.
India-Iran Engagement
US Sanctions Position
Trade prospects
India-Iran Engagement
Modi said India wanted to strengthen its long-standing friendship with Iran and expand and diversify the bilateral trade basket.
US Sanctions Position
Rubio said he did not believe India and Iran were discussing a trade deal.
Contact with Iran
India-Iran Engagement
India said it was ready to cooperate closely with Iran through multilateral organisations including BRICS and the SCO.
US Sanctions Position
Rubio acknowledged that countries develop their own foreign policies and maintain contact with Iran, but said they should not help Tehran evade US sanctions.
Regional conflict
India-Iran Engagement
Modi and Pezeshkian emphasized dialogue, diplomacy, peace, regional stability, and moving away from war and bloodshed.
US Sanctions Position
Rubio said the US would sanction countries that helped Iran generate revenue to sponsor terrorism or build a nuclear weapon, according to his stated warning.
- US official
- Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
- Meeting participants
- Narendra Modi and Masoud Pezeshkian
- Meeting location
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Summit
- 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit
- India’s stated trade goal
- To expand and diversify its bilateral trade with Iran
- Regional issues discussed
- Dialogue, diplomacy, peace, stability, commercial shipping, seafarer safety, and civilian safety
- US sanctions warning
- Countries helping Iran create revenue-generating mechanisms to evade US sanctions could themselves face sanctions
- Planned engagement
- Modi said he looked forward to welcoming Pezeshkian to the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13
Sources
US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Denies India-Iran Trade Talks, Warns Nations Against Helping Tehran Dodge Sanctions
US-Iran War: Marco Rubio reacts to Modi-Pezeshkian meet at SCO summit - 'There's no trade deal between India and Iran'
‘No country should help Iran’: US Secretary Marco Rubio’s warning after India-Iran SCO meet
Iran, India not talking trade: Rubio on Modi-Pezeshkian meet
'Don’t Think There’s a Trade Deal Between India, Iran': US State Secy Rubio on PM Modi-Iran President Meet
Don’t Think There’s a Trade Deal Between India, Iran: Rubio on Modi-Pezeshkian Meet
Marco Rubio says India, Iran not discussing trade deal after Modi-Pezeshkian meet; warns of sanctions
