No India-Iran Trade Deal, Says Rubio on Modi-Pezeshkian SCO Meet

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified that the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian does not signify a trade agreement between the two nations. His remarks came during an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio, where he was asked about the bilateral discussions held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek earlier this week.

Rubio's response sought to contextualise the scope of the engagement, explicitly stating, "There's no trade deal between India and Iran." The comment appears aimed at addressing speculation regarding the nature of the talks between the two leaders, which took place amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.

The interaction between Modi and Pezeshkian at the multilateral forum had drawn attention, given the complex diplomatic landscape involving the United States, Iran, and India. By downplaying the prospect of a trade pact, Rubio's statement underscores the limited scope of the current India-Iran dialogue, even as both countries continue to participate in regional platforms like the SCO.