Iran protests after US blocks nuclear chief from IAEA meeting in Vienna

Iran’s top nuclear official, Mohammad Eslami, was unable to attend the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) annual general conference in Vienna after his delegation was denied entry to Austria. The conference, which began on 14 September and runs through 18 September, brings together member states of the UN nuclear watchdog to discuss nuclear safety, security and non‑proliferation issues.

Eslami and his team flew to Vienna on 12 September, but were stopped before reaching the city. Iranian state television reported that the obstruction came as a result of opposition from the United States, which prevented the delegation from obtaining the necessary visas to enter Austria. The Iranian officials subsequently returned to Tehran.

According to the reports, the United States blocked an exemption from the so‑called “snapback” sanctions mechanism that could have allowed the Iranian delegation to attend the meeting. Austrian authorities, acting on that pressure, refused to issue visas to the Iranian officials, effectively barring their participation in the conference.

In response, Tehran summoned Austria’s charge d’affaires and issued a statement through foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei. The ministry described Austria’s refusal to grant visas as “completely unjustified” and said the decision was made under American pressure, though it held the Austrian government responsible for the outcome.

Eslami had previously attended the IAEA conference in 2025, delivering a speech on behalf of Iran, a member state of the agency. A diplomatic source in Vienna, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the visa denial was linked to U.S. pressure, underscoring the diplomatic tensions surrounding the meeting.