Iran's Atomic Energy Chief Unable to Attend IAEA Meeting Amid U.S. Opposition

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization head Mohammad Eslami failed to attend the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna on Wednesday (local time), as the United States opposed a request for travel exemption from the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee. Reuters reported that Iran protested Austria, which refused to issue Eslami's visa, citing the Sanctions Committee's rejection of his entry approval request. Austria stated it could not grant a visa without the committee's approval. AP reported that Iran claimed Eslami's exclusion severely infringed upon its rights as a member state. The U.S. explained that UN-designated personnel should not be permitted to travel while Iran's nuclear safety cooperation remains insufficient.