The United States has barred Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, from attending the annual General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. This action follows the United Nations Security Council's rejection of any waiver of 'snapback' sanctions. Iranian state media reported that Eslami and his delegation had to cancel their trip after Austria revoked his visa.
Eslami is subject to a UN Security Council travel ban under the pre-2015 multilateral 'snapback' framework, reinstated last year by European signatories. This framework mandates that member states prevent the entry or transit of designated Iranian officials linked to the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, stated that Eslami’s visa had initially been approved and called the visa denial a direct infringement on Iran’s rights as a member state. He asserted that the denial of access contravenes the legal framework governing attendance at IAEA meetings.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, accused the US of pressuring Austria into this decision, noting that Eslami had regularly attended the IAEA’s General Conference since his appointment in 2021. Both Iran and Russia characterized the incident as a coordinated effort to obstruct Iranian officials from obtaining international travel visas.
Najafi described the cancellation and the justification for it as a political act that politicizes the IAEA. The snapback sanctions, triggered by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (the E3), include travel bans and other restrictions related to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activities. Iran and its allies do not recognize these sanctions.
Austria, as the host state for UN bodies, initially sought a travel-ban exemption for Eslami but faced US objections. Austria’s ambassador to the IAEA, Christian Ebner, explained that under the UN committee’s 'no-objection' rule, Austria was required to deny entry to one member of the Iranian delegation.
US Ambassador Preston Wells Griffith III stated that the US objected to granting an exemption, arguing that Eslami’s participation would allow Iran to exploit IAEA proceedings for propaganda while undermining substantive cooperation.
Following US and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities last year, Iran has denied IAEA inspectors access to the affected sites, which it claims is in line with its peaceful nuclear program.
On Monday, former President Donald Trump indicated that Iran was eager to reach a deal with the US, suggesting a potential diplomatic opening despite ongoing regional tensions.