[🇮🇳] India-USA friendship

[Saif]

https://www.newagebd.net/post/south-asia/311195/us-sanctions-four-india-based-firms-over-iran-oil-trade

US sanctions four India-based firms over Iran oil trade
New Age Online 25 August, 2026, 18:45

New Age collage

Four India-based companies have been sanctioned by the US for importing petroleum and petrochemical products from Iran, reported The Telegraph Online citing PTI.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday announced ‘Operation Economic Outcast’, which essentially involved new sanctions that aim to block all potential sources of revenue for Iran, added the report published on Tuesday.

The US has also told countries to cut economic ties with Tehran or face retaliation.

Bessent described it as an unprecedented campaign to sever Iran’s financial lifelines. It broadens the risk of secondary sanctions for entities—which can be countries, businesses or organisations—continuing to do business with Tehran.

Among the four ‘India-based companies’ facing action is a customs broker identified as Portease Partners LLP and its partners Indrismiya Ashrafmiya Sheikh and Harish Ramachandra Rangi.

Other Indian companies facing action are Sadashiva Overseas Limited; PP Softtech Private Limited, along with its director Prashant Garg; and Prakrutees Infra Impex Private Limited.​

 

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Modi, Trump discuss bilateral ties as India pushes for US trade deal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump agreed to maintain close engagement to advance their countries’ strategic partnership, New Delhi said on Wednesday, as India’s trade minister holds talks in the United States aimed at securing an interim trade deal. In a

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Modi, Trump discuss bilateral ties as India pushes for US trade deal

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US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Jun 17, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump agreed to maintain close engagement to advance their countries’ strategic partnership, New Delhi said on Wednesday, as India’s trade minister holds talks in the United States aimed at securing an interim trade deal.

In a telephone conversation, Modi and Trump reviewed bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, energy and critical technologies, the Indian Prime Minister’s Office said.

“The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and agreed to maintain close engagement to deepen cooperation,” the statement said.

They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including efforts to promote global peace and security, it added.

India’s Trade Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting the United States from Sept 29 to Oct 5 for talks on a proposed bilateral trade agreement and an interim arrangement.

Goyal is due to meet US counterparts as part of efforts to advance a “balanced and mutually beneficial” India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, New Delhi said earlier this week.

Goyal arrived in Milwaukee on Tuesday for a G20 trade ministers’ meeting and met chief executives and senior executives from US manufacturing and technology companies at a roundtable hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers, India’s trade ministry said.

He was also scheduled to attend a meeting of G20 trade ministers in Wisconsin at the invitation of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

India and the United States have yet to reach an agreement after months of negotiations, with New Delhi seeking improved terms in the proposed deal.

Earlier this month, India said it had told Washington that new US tariff measures linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil could affect bilateral relations.​

 

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India rejects monopoly claim after Musk accuses Ambani of blocking Starlink launch

India’s telecom minister said on Friday the country does not allow monopolies in any sector, pushing back after Elon Musk suggested billionaire Mukesh Ambani was using political influence to block Starlink’s launch in the country. “India does not allow a monopoly in any sector,&r

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

India rejects monopoly claim after Musk accuses Ambani of blocking Starlink launch

The SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy v3 Booster lift off on its 14h test flight from the SpaceX launch complex in Starbase, Texas, US, Sept 28, 2026. The mission is expected to send the vehicle into orbit for the first time and deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites. REUTERS/Steve Nesius

India’s telecom minister said on Friday the country does not allow monopolies in any sector, pushing back after Elon Musk suggested billionaire Mukesh Ambani was using political influence to block Starlink’s launch in the country.

“India does not allow a monopoly in any sector,” telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said at a media briefing on Friday, addressing Musk’s remarks.

Musk’s SpaceX unit is seeking entry into a telecom market with more than a billion internet users, currently dominated by the mobile networks of Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Sunil Mittal’s Bharti Airtel.

“Is Ambani the real boss of India?”, Musk wrote on X on Thursday, questioning why Starlink still lacked a license despite what he said were years of compliance with Indian requirements. He provided no evidence against Ambani.

Ambani’s Reliance Jio did not respond to a request for comments on Musk’s remarks.

A four-year wait to launch Starlink’s satellite internet services in India has sparked heated exchanges online over business influence and regulatory delays, with Musk targeting Ambani and the political opposition joining the row.

While Starlink has already secured a licence to operate in India, a commercial launch still requires it to meet security compliance conditions and receive a spectrum assignment.

The government said on Thursday that all three licensed satellite operators, including Starlink, were at broadly the same regulatory stage, calling suggestions of an unfair or discriminatory process “baseless and misconceived”.​