New Delhi, Shahid K Abbas

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the Indian community in Seychelles as a "living bridge" connecting the two countries, applauding its contribution to the island nation's development while preserving India's rich cultural heritage, as he wrapped up a landmark three-day State Visit marked by major diplomatic achievements and enhanced people-to-people engagement.

Interacting with members of the Indian diaspora in Victoria, Modi highlighted the community's pivotal role in strengthening the longstanding historical and cultural relationship between India and Seychelles at a time when the two countries are expanding cooperation in maritime security, sustainable development, digital connectivity and regional stability in the Indian Ocean.

The Prime Minister received a rousing welcome upon his arrival at his hotel in Victoria, where members of the diaspora greeted him with traditional Kutch folk dances, sacred mantra chants and the waving of the Indian Tricolour, reflecting the community's enduring emotional and cultural ties with India.

Addressing the gathering, Modi praised the diaspora for keeping Indian traditions alive despite living far from their ancestral homeland. He noted with appreciation that festivals such as Deepavali and Navratri continue to be celebrated enthusiastically in Seychelles and remarked that the community's fondness for Indian cuisine, including samosas, symbolised its strong cultural connection with India.

He said the Indian community had served as a vital link in reinforcing the friendship between the two countries and acknowledged its contribution to Seychelles' development over the years.

Later, in a series of posts on social media platform X, the Prime Minister wrote, "Had a wonderful interaction with members of the Indian community in Seychelles. They are making effective contributions to Seychelles' progress. At the same time, their connection with India is still very strong."

The diaspora outreach was one of the highlights of Modi's State Visit, which witnessed several historic milestones in bilateral relations. The Prime Minister attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Seychelles' Independence as the Guest of Honour, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and the Indian Ocean nation.

In another landmark moment, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address an Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly of Seychelles, underlining the growing strategic importance of the partnership and India's commitment to the Indian Ocean region.

During the visit, the Prime Minister was also conferred the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon', Seychelles' highest honour for leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development, adding another prestigious international recognition to his global efforts on climate action and sustainability.

During bilateral talks with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of cooperation and discussed expanding collaboration under India's Vision MAHASAGAR initiative. Their discussions focused on maritime security, green energy, sustainable development and strengthening regional cooperation across the Indian Ocean.

The Prime Minister also underlined the shared civilisational and spiritual bonds between the two nations through visits to key cultural landmarks in Victoria.

He offered prayers at the Arulmigu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, one of Seychelles' most prominent Hindu temples, saying, "May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless everyone with wisdom, strength and prosperity."

Appreciating the efforts of the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam, Modi said, "I would like to appreciate the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam for their efforts towards the building of the Arulmigu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple and for popularising different aspects of Indian culture and spirituality in Seychelles."

The Prime Minister also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Peace Park in Victoria, where he reflected on the enduring relevance of Gandhi's ideals.

"Bapu's ideals transcend generations, uniting people in the pursuit of peace, justice and human dignity. His thoughts continue to inspire our collective endeavour for a better world," Modi wrote on X.

Summing up the visit, Modi expressed confidence that India-Seychelles relations were poised to enter a new era of innovation and shared prosperity.

"My visit to Seychelles has been filled with substantive outcomes that will boost the India-Seychelles friendship. I can confidently say that while the past fifty years of our relationship have been marked by deep trust and shared progress, the next fifty years will be defined by innovation, sustainability and shared prosperity," he said.

Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, the Prime Minister added, "I am happy to have joined the National Day celebrations and that too during the time when Seychelles marks 50 years of Independence. I thank President Herminie, the Government and people of Seychelles for their affection."

India and Seychelles enjoy longstanding historical, cultural and economic ties, supported by a vibrant Indian-origin community that has contributed significantly to the island nation's growth. In recent years, bilateral cooperation has broadened to include defense and maritime security, infrastructure, healthcare, education, digital public infrastructure, renewable energy and capacity building. Modi's visit, coinciding with the twin milestones of Seychelles' Golden Jubilee of Independence and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, reinforced India's commitment to a secure, prosperous and inclusive Indian Ocean under its MAHASAGAR vision

Washington/Tehran, June 18 (UNI)

Senior US officials have clarified that Iran will not automatically gain access to frozen assets, sanctions relief, or a multibillion-dollar economic reconstruction package merely by signing the upcoming memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Washington.

The clarification follows the release of the 14-point memorandum on Wednesday, which prompted varying and sometimes contradictory interpretations in both Washington and Tehran.

During a background briefing, US officials emphasized that the MoU is a broad framework designed to facilitate future negotiations rather than a final agreement. As such, it does not commit the United States to providing immediate economic benefits. Any incentives, they said, would be contingent upon Iran’s compliance and measurable progress toward a comprehensive settlement, according to Iran International.

Officials also rejected claims circulating in Iranian media that the agreement would unlock substantial financial gains before a final deal is reached.

Addressing the provision outlining a reconstruction and economic development plan valued at at least $300 billion, they stressed that the text does not obligate Washington to provide post-war funding or direct financial assistance. Instead, the clause establishes a pathway toward potential sanctions relief if Iran fulfills its commitments, potentially encouraging future investment from governments and private-sector entities.

The officials further noted that any sanctions relief would be tied to verifiable advances in addressing concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme. Economic benefits, they said, would be granted only in exchange for meaningful nuclear concessions, including measures related to Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Regarding Iran’s frozen assets, the Trump administration stated that the MoU links any asset release to the implementation of the agreement and progress in broader negotiations. Officials said Tehran had already accepted provisions stipulating that no funds would be released automatically and that access would depend entirely on Iranian compliance and demonstrations of good faith.

While some funds could potentially be made available during the negotiation process, officials stressed that this would occur only if Iran undertakes specific actions requested by Washington.

US officials also dismissed broader interpretations of the memorandum’s provisions concerning the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the agreement focuses on reopening the strategic waterway and restoring commercial shipping rather than creating a broader Gulf security framework.

On military matters, officials said Washington has no immediate plans to reduce its military presence in the region following the signing of the memorandum. Any future adjustments would depend on Iran’s adherence to the agreement and progress in negotiations.

The officials highlighted the importance of direct communication channels established during the conflict between US forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), noting that these channels helped reduce misunderstandings and facilitated diplomatic contacts during and after the conflict.

They also rejected suggestions that nuclear issues had been excluded from the memorandum, pointing out that the text explicitly commits both sides to discussions on Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and broader nuclear activities.

The memorandum is expected to be formally signed on Friday, after which negotiations aimed at reaching a final settlement are scheduled to begin.

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Washington, 15 Jun 2026

US Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration plans to publish the full text of its agreement with Iran this week, saying "We want the American people to see it," adding that only a handful of diplomatic and technical issues remained before the document could be made public.

"Sometimes with these agreements, there are some diplomatic protocols, some technical things to work out, but we plan to release the full text this week," he told CBS News.

Vance said the agreement is designed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, as well as reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz corridor.

According to the VP, the framework offers Iran a path towards economic reintegration if it complies with its commitments.

"It fundamentally extends a hand to Iran and says, 'look, if you guys are willing to honour your obligations, if you're willing to allow real inspections of your nuclear programme, then we will welcome you back into the world economy,'" he said.

He added that Tehran could enjoy a more prosperous future if it fulfils the terms of the agreement, but stressed that any sanctions relief or access to frozen assets would be tied to compliance. He further rejected reports that Tehran would automatically receive $24bn in frozen funds after meeting specific benchmarks.
"That figure doesn't appear anywhere in any of the texts," Vance said.

"What we have said is that we're willing to talk about unfreezing assets, but a much, much bigger deal is unsanctioning their economy — so long as they make the long-term commitments on the nuclear programme."
The vice president said discussions on frozen assets would continue during technical negotiations scheduled to begin after the formal signing ceremony expected on Friday.

Vance also said the US had discussed with Iran how to deal with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which international inspectors believe remains buried beneath the rubble of a nuclear facility struck during the war.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran possesses around 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium which is enriched to over 60%.

"We certainly talked with the Iranians about how we're going to destroy that enriched stockpile. The technical details are one of the things that we're going to work on when we start those technical talks on Friday," Vance said.
He did not rule out a role for the US military in verifying Iranian compliance, though he suggested military involvement would likely be limited.

"We're talking about working with the IAEA and working with the Iranians to go in and destroy that enriched stockpile of material," he said.

"Whether we play an observer role or whether we play a more active role, these are the sorts of things that we'll figure out in technical talks."

Vance added that President Donald Trump had it made clear that Washington would ensure the destruction of the enriched uranium stockpile.

"The United States will be there to confirm that that enriched stockpile of material is destroyed," he said.

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Tehran, June 15 (Sputnik/UNI)

Iran has confirmed the completion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States; it will be signed in Switzerland on June 19, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said.

"The text of the Memorandum of Understanding has been finalised, and the official signing of the memorandum will take place in Switzerland on Friday," Gharibabadi said live on Iranian state television. The lifting of the US naval blockade against Iran will begin on the night of Monday, he said.

The Iran-US memorandum includes an immediate cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, starting on the night of Monday, Gharibabadi confirmed.

"This memorandum does not signify trust in the enemy. The memorandum was drafted with no confidence in it. We will monitor the actions of the United States, as well as its fulfillment of its obligations," he noted.

Iran will discuss sanctions relief, nuclear issues, and economic recovery with the United States after signing a memorandum on June 19, the deputy foreign minister added.

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