Iran Condemns Austria’s Visa Revocation for Nuclear Chief at IAEA Conference

The 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) opened in Vienna amid a diplomatic dispute after Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, was prevented from attending despite having previously received a valid Schengen visa. Iran said the decision followed US pressure and accused Austria of violating its obligations as host of international organizations by denying access to the head of an official delegation.

Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna, Reza Najafi, described the move as a “clear abuse of power and process” and said Austria had failed to uphold its legal obligations. He argued that preventing Eslami from attending undermined Austria’s credibility as an impartial host country. Russia echoed Tehran’s criticism, with its UN representative Mikhail Ulyanov saying Austria had “grossly violated” its obligations under the headquarters agreement with the IAEA and warning that the decision could further worsen relations between Tehran and the nuclear watchdog.

The Iranian delegation is being led by Eslami’s deputies in his absence. Behrouz Kamalvandi, deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said the decision was the result of political pressure on Austria and constituted a misuse of the host country’s authority. The dispute comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the IAEA following the US-Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and renewed international efforts concerning Tehran’s nuclear program.