US Senator Marco Rubio said there is no trade deal between India and Iran following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran President Massoud Pezeshkian at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek earlier this week, according to livemint.com. Rubio made these remarks during an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio.
The meeting between Modi and Pezeshkian took place on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, a platform for regional cooperation among member states. Rubio responded to a question about the meeting by clarifying that no trade agreement was concluded between the two countries. The US senator's comments came amid heightened tensions in the region and ongoing concerns about US-Iran relations.
Rubio's statement underscores the absence of formal economic ties being established between India and Iran at this high-profile summit. The SCO Summit often serves as a venue for bilateral discussions, but this interaction did not result in trade agreements, contrasting with expectations of enhanced cooperation. The clarification is significant given the geopolitical sensitivity surrounding Iran and India's foreign policy balancing act.
The SCO Summit in Bishkek concluded this week, with multiple bilateral meetings taking place. Rubio's remarks on the absence of a trade deal between India and Iran were reported on September 3, 2026, by livemint.com, providing a clear update on the outcomes of the Modi-Pezeshkian meeting.