US warns India of sanctions if it helps Iran evade restrictions

Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned India that countries helping Iran evade US sanctions could face punitive measures, following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Rubio said every country has the right to pursue its own foreign policy, but warned that the US would take strict action against countries that help Tehran circumvent American sanctions.

Modi and Pezeshkian met on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. However, Rubio said he did not believe the meeting indicated that India and Iran were working towards any trade agreements.

Rubio made the remarks while responding to questions from a journalist on The Brian Kilmeade Show.

He said countries have their own independent foreign policies and that many nations engage in diplomatic discussions with the Iranian government. However, he reiterated Washington's position that no country should help Iran evade sanctions.

Rubio said the US president had made it clear that no one should help Iran generate revenue to support terrorism or develop nuclear weapons. Countries that provide mechanisms to help Iran circumvent the sanctions, he warned, could face US sanctions.

During his meeting with Pezeshkian in Bishkek, Modi reiterated India's commitment to further strengthening its long-standing friendship with Tehran. India also wants to expand bilateral trade into more areas, Modi said in a post on X.

The two leaders discussed the prevailing situation in West Asia and expressed India's full support for efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs described the meeting as "highly productive". Modi reiterated India's consistent position that the problems in West Asia should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than war, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

He added that sustained engagement was necessary to maintain peace and stability in the region and safeguard shipping and freedom of commerce. The safety of cargo vessels and the protection of the lives of sailors and civilians were also key issues discussed during the meeting.

Modi also expressed India's interest in working with Iran through multilateral organisations such as BRICS and the SCO. He welcomed Pezeshkian to the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi from September 12 to 13.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials were also present during the high-level meeting.