"No Nation Should Help Iran": Rubio's 'Sanctions' Warning After PM Modi-Pezeshkian Meet - ndtv.com

**New Delhi, Sept 3 (INDGovernment.com)** – Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, a gathering that signalled a tentative thaw in economic ties that have been strained by Western sanctions on Tehran. During the two‑hour discussion, Modi urged Iran to expand bilateral trade, emphasizing sectors such as renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and maritime logistics, while also stressing the “security of seafarers” that ply the Indian Ocean routes linking the two nations. The Indian leader highlighted New Delhi’s “balanced” approach, seeking to uphold its strategic partnership with Tehran without contravening United Nations‑mandated sanctions.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reacted sharply to the meeting, issuing a public warning that “no nation should help Iran evade sanctions.” In a televised interview, Rubio argued that any relaxation of trade restrictions could undermine the coordinated pressure exerted by the United States, the European Union and other allies aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme and its support for regional proxies. He called on Washington’s allies, including India, to “remain vigilant” and to ensure that commercial engagements do not become a conduit for prohibited technology or financing that could bolster Iran’s illicit activities.

The diplomatic episode arrives as India navigates a complex geopolitical landscape marked by Russia’s war in Ukraine and renewed hostilities in the Middle East. Editorial commentary in *Telegraph India* praised New Delhi’s nuanced diplomacy, noting that India’s historical ties with Iran—particularly in energy and trade—must be balanced against its commitments to multilateral sanctions regimes. While Indian officials reiterated that any trade expansion would comply with international law, the episode underscores the tightrope the country walks between fostering regional economic cooperation and adhering to the sanctions architecture championed by Washington and its partners. Analysts warn that any misstep could invite secondary sanctions, potentially affecting Indian firms operating in the Persian Gulf and the broader Indian Ocean maritime corridor.