US blocks Iran nuclear chief from Vienna meeting

The United States has blocked Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, from attending the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna.

Eslami, who heads Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, was expected to attend and address the annual meeting of IAEA member states.

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Austria had requested an exemption from a United Nations travel ban to allow Eslami to attend, but the request was rejected after the United States objected.

The sanctions, reimposed under the UN’s “snapback” mechanism, include a travel ban on Eslami.

The US said it opposed the exemption because Eslami’s participation could allow Iran to use the IAEA meeting for propaganda while failing to cooperate fully with the nuclear watchdog.

Iran condemned the decision, accusing the United States of putting political pressure on Austria and describing the move as a violation of Iran’s rights as an IAEA member.

Iranian state television reported that Eslami and his delegation had travelled towards Vienna but were prevented from attending and later returned to Tehran.

The dispute comes amid growing tensions between Iran and the IAEA over access to the country’s nuclear facilities and the monitoring of its nuclear programme.