Iran’s nuclear chief unlikely to attend IAEA General Conference in Vienna

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, is not expected to attend the International Atomic Energy Agency’s annual General Conference in Vienna. The decision follows a ban that prevents him from traveling internationally.

Austria, which hosts the United Nations offices in Vienna, asked the United Nations sanctions committee for a waiver that would allow Eslami to attend the meeting despite the travel restriction. The committee did not grant the exemption, leaving the Iranian official unable to travel to the conference.

The absence of Iran’s nuclear chief comes amid a rapid deterioration in relations between Tehran and Western nations. After a fragile cease‑fire collapsed in July, the United States and Iran have resumed intermittent fighting. The tension follows a June 2025 strike by Israel and the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Since the June strikes, Iran has not provided IAEA inspectors with access to the nuclear sites that were damaged, a step required under the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty. The lack of access has limited the agency’s ability to monitor the facilities and verify compliance.

In addition, the IAEA has been unable to confirm the status of a stockpile of near‑weapons‑grade uranium that it estimates contains 440.9 kilograms (approximately 972 pounds). The agency has not received further information from Iranian authorities regarding the material.