Iran Protests as Austria Blocks Nuclear Chief From IAEA Conference

Austria has refused to issue a visa to Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, preventing him from attending the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna.

Eslami, who heads Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, was expected to lead an Iranian delegation to the 70th IAEA General Conference, which opened in Vienna on Monday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed the visa refusal and said Tehran had formally protested the decision.

According to Iranian officials, Austria’s diplomatic representative in Tehran was summoned over the matter.

Baghaei described the decision as “absolutely unjustified” and argued that pressure from the United States should not prevent Austria, as the host country, from fulfilling its obligations to international organisations.

The visa dispute comes amid existing international travel restrictions against Eslami.

The Associated Press reported that Austria had sought a waiver from the United Nations sanctions committee to allow Eslami to travel to Vienna for the conference, but the request was not granted.

Eslami has been subject to a UN travel ban linked to earlier sanctions against Iranian officials. The restrictions have complicated his participation in international meetings despite his regular attendance at previous IAEA conferences.

Iranian state media had earlier reported that Eslami had departed Tehran for Vienna. However, reports later indicated that he would not be able to attend the conference because of the travel restrictions.

Iran accuses US of influencing decision

Baghaei accused Washington of exerting pressure over the visa decision, saying Austria would remain responsible for the consequences of refusing entry to the Iranian delegation.

“The refusal to issue a visa under pressure from Washington does not absolve Austria of responsibility,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, according to a report on the dispute.

The Austrian government has not publicly confirmed Iran’s allegation that the United States pressured it to deny Eslami’s visa.

Eslami’s exclusion comes at a particularly sensitive time in relations between Iran and the IAEA, with the nuclear watchdog facing difficulties in verifying aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme.

The annual IAEA conference is expected to address nuclear safeguards, policy issues and the agency’s work in the Middle East, against the backdrop of continuing international concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities.

Source: AA