New Delhi: The Iranian Embassy in India on Sunday strongly rejected comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accusing Washington of seeking to “distort the realities of the region” and to distract from what Tehran called the “destabilising policies” of the United States and Israel.
In a statement posted on X, the embassy said, “The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India rejects the recent remarks made by the United States Secretary of State regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran and emphasizes that such allegations constitute a clear attempt to distort the realities of the region and to deflect attention from the destabilizing policies of the United States and the Zionist regime.”
Energy & Sanctions
Defending Tehran’s role in global energy, the embassy stressed that Iran has “always been prepared to make its energy resources available to all countries, including the Republic of India.” It blamed the main disruption to energy markets on American sanctions against Iranian oil, calling them “unlawful and unjust.” The statement accused Washington of violating “the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations” through measures targeting Iran’s oil exports.
Humanitarian Impact
Tehran also accused the United States of decades of hostile measures that, the embassy argued, have affected access to medicines and medical equipment. According to the statement, such sanctions had “endangered the lives of many innocent patients and caused widespread human suffering.”
Rubio Remarks
During his four-day official visit to India, Rubio said talks with Tehran appear to be advancing. At an event at the US Embassy in New Delhi, he said, “There’s been some progress made. Even as I speak to you now, there’s some work being done.” Rubio added that Iran “can never have nuclear weapons” and must hand over its enriched uranium stockpile.
He also urged that the “straits need to be opened without tolls,” and said, “The President’s preference is always to solve problems such as these through a negotiated diplomatic solution.” Rubio highlighted that US energy exports could help diversify India’s supply.
Nuclear Claims
The embassy rejected accusations that Tehran’s nuclear program is anything but peaceful, reiterating that as a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons it has “consistently declared that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.”
It noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency had “thus far neither observed nor reported any diversion in Iran’s nuclear activities.” Iran called the “peaceful use of nuclear science and technology” a “legitimate and inalienable right” it will not surrender.
Regional Tensions
The statement accused the US and Israel of fueling instability through “military, provocative, and adventurist actions,” which Tehran said threaten maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Diplomatic engagement has escalated in recent days, with reports of talks involving Iran, the US, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman and other regional actors. Iran warned that its armed forces remain ready to respond to any aggression, while parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf cautioned that renewed US action would bring consequences “more crushing and bitter for the United States than on the first day of the war.”
