Austria has prevented Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, from entering the country to attend an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference scheduled to take place in Vienna, following a request from the United States, according to a U.S. official cited by Bloomberg.
Eslami had been scheduled to deliver a speech at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna on Monday. However, Austrian authorities refused to allow him to enter the country, according to the U.S. official.
Austria Rejects UN Request for Sanctions Exemption
The U.S. official said Austria rejected a United Nations request to grant Eslami an exemption from U.S. sanctions imposed on him, preventing him from entering Austria and participating in the conference.
Iranian media had previously reported that Eslami had left Tehran for Vienna to attend the conference. It later became clear that he had been barred from entering Austria.
The decision effectively prevented the Iranian official from taking part in the planned conference proceedings despite his earlier departure from Tehran.
New Escalation Over Iran’s Nuclear Program
Eslami’s exclusion comes at a time of renewed tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency over Tehran’s nuclear program, following a recent decision by the agency concerning the issue.
The IAEA had adopted a resolution concerning the referral of Iran’s nuclear file to the United Nations Security Council, an initiative backed by several Western countries. The move represents an additional escalation of international pressure on Tehran over its nuclear activities.
The latest developments come amid continued disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions imposed on Iranian officials, as international parties seek to address the consequences of the growing tensions surrounding Tehran’s nuclear activities.
The decision to prevent Eslami from entering Austria adds another point of contention to the already strained relationship between Iran and the international community over the nuclear issue.
