Austria blocks Iran's nuclear chief from IAEA meeting in Vienna 'under US pressure'
TEHRAN — Austria denied visa to Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami, preventing him from attending an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference in Vienna, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported.
Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, had planned to travel to Vienna on Saturday.
“Mohammad Eslami and his delegation took a regular flight to Vienna on Saturday, but were blocked on the way because of obstructions by the United States,” the state broadcaster reported, saying he had returned to the capital, Tehran.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed the visa refusal and called Austria’s decision “absolutely unjustified,” IRIB reported.
“It is clear to us that this incident occurred under American pressure, but that does not absolve the Austrian government of responsibility,” Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran.
Tehran formally protested the move and summoned Austria’s charge d’affaires, Baghaei said. He said pressure from the United States should not prevent countries hosting international organizations from meeting their obligations.
Iran was not represented at the conference, marking the first time in years that it did not participate in an IAEA meeting.
An official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Austria had sought a waiver from the UN sanctions committee to allow Eslami to travel but the request was not granted, ABC reported.
The dispute comes as the IAEA remains unable to inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities. Tehran has denied agency inspectors access to its nuclear sites since the conflict with Israel and the United States began in February.
