Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami was barred from participating in the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna when the U.S. objected to a UN sanctions waiver for Eslami to attend in Austria.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed that Washington had made pressure “to prevent his [Eslami’s] entry” into Austria as he was a “sanctioned individual” and should not be allowed to circumvent the sanctions. Eslami sought a waiver, but was denied, he said.
On Saturday, Eslami and his team were forced to halt their trip to Vienna, which had been on a routine flight, due to US pressure, Iranian state television said. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said it was “politically pressured” by Washington and that it could be a precedent for other nations.
Austria had asked for an exception for Eslami, as he is subject to a UN travel ban, but the UN Security Council sanctions committee did not agree because of a lack of consensus. That meant Austria had to block his entry, Austrian officials said.
The decision was strongly protested by Iran. Reza Najafi, Eslami’s representative to the IAEA, described the sanctions against Eslami as an “unfounded narrative by the Western countries.
Austria’s chargé d’affaires has been summoned to Tehran and the move was “completely unjustified,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said. Iran accused of US pressure, but Austria also to blame, Iran said, for it ultimately denied entry to Eslami.
The dispute comes as tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme remain high. Last year, Britain, France and Germany sparked the so-called snapback process, which resulted in the re-imposition of UN sanctions, which were eased under the 2015 nuclear deal.
The IAEA conference will continue through Friday. Eslami was present in last year’s meeting and spoke to the delegates about Iran.
Source: AFP
