▲ Mohammad Eslami, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
Mohammad Eslami, the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and Vice President, was unable to attend the annual general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on the 14th (local time), according to Bloomberg and other media outlets.
A U.S. official told the media outlet that while Eslami was scheduled to address the IAEA general conference that day, the Austrian government denied his entry on the grounds that he is subject to United Nations sanctions.
The official added that although the Austrian government requested a waiver of the entry ban for Eslami from the UN Sanctions Committee, the request ultimately fell through due to strong demands from the United States.
According to Iran's state-run IRIB broadcaster, Eslami and his delegation departed for Vienna on a regular commercial flight on the 12th.
However, the broadcaster reported that during the flight, continuous obstruction by the U.S. combined with the cooperation of certain countries resulted in the aircraft being forced to change its route.
IRIB stated, "The delegation's final destination was Vienna, the capital of Austria, but unfortunately, the plane turned around midway through the journey," adding, "As a result, it was confirmed that Eslami ultimately failed to arrive in Vienna and returned to Tehran on the 12th, the very day of his departure."
The U.S. appears to have made this decision based on the view that granting even a temporary exemption from UN sanctions for Eslami could be interpreted as conferring legitimacy on the Iranian regime.
France, the United Kingdom, and Germany—the three European nations that signed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—concluded that Iran had intentionally violated the nuclear agreement and initiated the snapback mechanism in September of last year to restore UN sanctions.
Consequently, a travel ban was imposed on Eslami.
Earlier, Iranian media reported on the 12th that Eslami had left Tehran to attend the IAEA general conference.
In the United States, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is expected to attend this IAEA general conference and emphasize the need for Iran to halt its nuclear program, prohibit the possession of nuclear weapons, and resume inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities by IAEA inspectors.
The AP reported that issues concerning nuclear safeguards in the Middle East will also be discussed during the annual IAEA general conference running from the 14th to the 18th.
As a result, attention is focused on whether Saudi Arabia, which signed a nuclear agreement with the U.S. in July, will discuss accepting the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) and the Additional Protocol (AP) with the IAEA, areas where it had previously shown reluctance.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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