Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Sept 2026 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that countries assisting Iran in evading American sanctions could themselves face punitive measures, while dismissing reports that India and Iran are moving towards a new trade agreement.
Rubio made the remarks while responding to questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with the Iranian President and other officials, as well as reports suggesting that New Delhi and Tehran could be working towards strengthening their trade relationship.
“I don’t think there’s a trade deal between India and Iran,” Rubio said during an interview with The Brian Kilmeade Show.
The US Secretary of State acknowledged that countries have their own foreign policies and maintain diplomatic and commercial contacts with Iran. He noted that Washington itself has been in communication with representatives of the Iranian government as part of discussions on various issues.
“Obviously, there are -- countries all develop their own foreign policy, and many countries around the world talk to the Iranian regime,” Rubio said, adding that the United States had also maintained contact with elements of the Iranian government during ongoing discussions.
However, Rubio stressed that the Trump administration had made its position clear that no country should assist Tehran in circumventing US sanctions or establish mechanisms that would enable Iran to generate additional revenue.
He warned that countries choosing to help Iran bypass sanctions could themselves become targets of US sanctions.
The central objective of Washington’s Iran policy, Rubio said, remains preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He said the United States would continue to exert economic pressure on Iran for as long as its government pursues or claims an interest in developing such a capability.
“Iran will never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, certainly not as long as President Trump is in office,” Rubio said.
According to the Secretary of State, economic pressure remains Washington’s primary instrument against Tehran, although the United States retains the option of military action if it believes such measures are necessary to protect American personnel or prevent Iran from threatening other countries.
Rubio also accused the Iranian government of directing financial resources towards supporting armed groups rather than improving economic conditions for its population. He claimed that Tehran’s priorities included supporting terrorism and ultimately acquiring a nuclear weapon, objectives Washington considers unacceptable.
The Secretary of State also addressed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes for global energy supplies. Rubio alleged that Iran had continued firing at commercial vessels and said US forces had destroyed mines placed in the waterway.
He said the United States would continue targeting threats to its personnel and international commercial shipping while maintaining that the strategic strait would remain open.
“The straits will remain open, and they will not be under Iranian control,” Rubio said.
His comments come as India and Iran continue to maintain longstanding diplomatic and economic relations. New Delhi has historically pursued an independent foreign policy towards Tehran despite US sanctions and has sought to maintain channels for trade and connectivity.
A key element of India-Iran cooperation is the development of Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran. India has been involved in the port’s development as part of efforts to establish an alternative trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan.
While Washington has imposed extensive sanctions on Iran, the Chabahar project has also been viewed as strategically significant for regional connectivity and India’s access to markets in Central Asia.
Rubio’s warning underscores the continuing tension between Washington’s sanctions policy towards Tehran and the independent economic and strategic interests of countries such as India that maintain engagement with Iran.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
