The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi issued a formal press statement on Sunday, 25 May 2025, categorically rejecting recent remarks by United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Iran. The embassy accused Washington of attempting to 'distort the realities of the region' and deflect attention from what it described as the destabilising policies of the United States and the 'Zionist regime.'

The Embassy's Official Rejection

In its statement, the Iranian 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.'

The embassy described US sanctions on Iranian oil exports as disruptive to global energy markets, noting that Iran — one of the world's major oil and energy exporters — has consistently expressed readiness to supply energy resources to all countries, including India.

Sanctions and Humanitarian Impact

'Oil sanctions represent only a small part of the broader pattern of hostile measures and pressures that the US government has imposed on the Iranian people over the past 47 years,' the statement read. The embassy further alleged that these restrictions have extended to access to medicines and medical equipment for Iranian patients — a claim it presented as evidence of the sweeping humanitarian toll of US policy.

Maritime Security and Regional Accusations

Iran accused both the United States and Israel of generating regional instability and threatening maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz through what it called 'military, provocative, and adventurist actions.' The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil transit chokepoint; any disruption there carries significant consequences for international energy supply chains.

This comes amid ongoing indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Rubio had acknowledged that those talks had made 'some progress,' but stressed that the US would never permit Iran to possess a nuclear weapon or to impose tolls on maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Nuclear Programme: The Embassy's Position

Responding to allegations about its nuclear activities, the embassy reiterated that Iran's programme is entirely peaceful and operates under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology to be the legitimate and inalienable right of its people and emphasizes that it will never relinquish this lawful and internationally recognised right,' the statement said.

The embassy also claimed that Iran had withstood military and political pressure from the US and Israel, asserting that efforts to alter Iran's political system had failed. It added that Iran's armed forces remain in 'full readiness' to respond to any threat against the country's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

Context and What Comes Next

The statement marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic rhetoric issued from Iranian soil — or, in this case, its diplomatic mission in India — at a moment when US-Iran indirect talks are reportedly still active. Notably, Iran's choice to issue this statement through its New Delhi embassy underscores the importance it places on its bilateral relationship with India, a major potential buyer of Iranian crude. Whether this public posturing affects the pace of ongoing negotiations remains to be seen.