Washington prevents Iran's atomic energy chief from IAEA meeting in Vienna
The United States has prevented Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, from attending the IAEA General Conference in Vienna. Austria revoked his visa after UN Security Council sanctions were reinstated, which include a travel ban on Eslami. Iran's ambassador to the IAEA called the move a violation of member state rights, while Iran accused Washington of pressuring Austria.
The visa denial stems from UN Security Council “snapback” sanctions reinstated last year by France, Germany, and the UK after the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. Those sanctions include a travel ban on officials linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Austria initially sought a waiver for Eslami, but the US objected under the committee’s no-objection rule, forcing Vienna to revoke the visa. Iran’s IAEA ambassador called the move a political act and a violation of host-country obligations, while Russia joined Iran in condemning the decision as coordinated pressure.
This incident could further strain already tense US-Iran relations and complicate IAEA diplomacy, as Iran may perceive the move as undermining its legitimate participation in multilateral forums. It may also deepen distrust among member states about the politicization of UN procedures, potentially affecting future cooperation on nuclear verification and regional security discussions.