Washington’s New Warning to the World: Trade With Iran at Your Own Risk

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that countries helping Iran bypass American sanctions could also face US sanctions.

Speaking in an interview on the Brian Kilmeade Show, Rubio dismissed reports of a possible trade agreement between India and Iran, saying he did not believe the two countries had reached such an agreement.

Rubio acknowledged that countries have their own independent foreign policies and that several nations maintain contacts with Iran. However, he said countries should not create systems or mechanisms that allow Tehran to evade US sanctions or generate revenue despite American restrictions.

The US secretary of state said President Donald Trump’s position was clear: countries that help Iran circumvent American sanctions could face action from Washington.

Rubio said the United States was particularly concerned that Iran could use revenue generated through international trade to support what Washington describes as terrorism and to advance its nuclear programme.

He warned that countries facilitating such activities could also become subject to US sanctions.

The latest warning reflects Washington’s continued efforts to tighten economic pressure on Tehran and discourage other countries from developing mechanisms that could allow Iran to maintain trade while bypassing US financial restrictions.