Iran Summons Austria After U.S. Blocks Mohammad Eslami From IAEA Conference in Vienna

Iran said it summoned Austria’s chargé d’affaires after Vienna refused to allow Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, to participate in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s annual conference in Vienna, with Iranian state television reporting that Eslami and his delegation were stopped on the way and returned to Tehran.

“He is under sanctions, and we do not want those under sanctions to bypass them”

BBC

The BBC reported that U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Energy? stated on Monday that the United States opposes Eslami’s attendance, saying: "He is under sanctions, and we do not want those under sanctions to bypass them; he had requested a waiver from the sanctions and his request was rejected."

Al-Bayan

In response, Ismail Bagheri, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said: "The Austrian government’s refusal to grant visas to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s delegation is a totally unwarranted decision."

The BBC also quoted Austria’s ambassador to the IAEA, Christian Ebner, saying Austria submitted a request to the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee to exempt Eslami from the travel ban, but "the request was denied."

Alongside the Vienna dispute, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Saudi Arabia requested postponement of a meeting between Tehran and the Gulf states that was due to be held in Oman on Monday, coinciding with the prevention of the top Iranian nuclear official from attending a Vienna meeting under "American pressure."

Al-Wasābah Al-Wasṭ quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Bagayi denying any Iranian involvement in Yemen matters and saying: "Iran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs," while noting that the Houthi authorities "are completely independent entities that make decisions based on their own interests."

Al-Jazira Net

The BBC reported that Bagheri said it was Saudi Arabia that requested delaying a planned Iranian-Gulf meeting, and he described relying on the Yemen issue as a reason to delay the regional meeting on navigation routes in the Strait of Hormuz as "a flimsy pretext."

Al-Wasābah Al-Wasṭ also said Mohammad Ali Bakr told reporters the meeting was postponed "at the request of some regional countries" and by a joint decision between Iran and Oman, with coordination with Muscat about a new date.

As diplomacy in the region appeared to stall, Iran’s Gulf Strait Authority published an updated list of 77 ships that "violate Iranian protocols for the Strait of Hormuz," warning that ships on the list would face future transit restrictions including fines, detention, or seizure.

“the Strait of Hormuz published an updated list of 77 ships”

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat

Al-Wasābah Al-Wasṭ reported that oil prices surged after Saudi Arabia shut the East-West Main pipeline, extending about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), after sustaining damage from drone attacks on Friday, with Brent crude surpassing $107 per barrel.

Reuters quoted Saudi oil traders saying Riyadh would exhaust export-specific inventories if its main pipeline to the Red Sea is not reactivated within days, potentially cutting global supply by as much as 4 percent.

In parallel, Al-Wasābah Al-Wasṭ said Saudi state media released a video showing damage to homes and a mosque from the latest alleged attack by the Iran-backed Houthi group across the border in the border province of Jizan, and the Yemen-based Houthi movement claimed responsibility for targeting a Saudi military base after their takeover of Pearam/Meun Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.