Iran protests as US prevents its nuclear chief attending IAEA meeting

Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi arrive to the opening of the... Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab Read more Summary 'Snapback' sanctions impose travel ban on Iran's Eslami Host Austria says it sought exemption, which was denied U.S. says denial happened because it opposed exemption Iran denounces what it sees as a 'political act' VIENNA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The ​United States blocked Iran's nuclear chief from attending this week's U.N. atomic watchdog meeting ‌in Vienna by opposing an exemption from so-called "snapback" U.N. sanctions, prompting protests from Tehran on Monday. Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami had been due to attend and address this week's International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference, an annual meeting of IAEA member ​states that began on Monday. At the opening, however, Iran said Austria had revoked Eslami's visa ​after originally granting him one. Sign up here. "The cancellation and so-called legal justification advanced for it ⁠are a stark indication of a political act and advanced formal politicisation of this organisation," Iran's ambassador ​to the IAEA told the conference. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the United States had pressured Austria ​into the move, while Iran and Russia said it formed part of a broader effort to prevent Iranian officials from obtaining visas for international travel. The United States said it had objected to an exemption that would have allowed Eslami to travel ​despite sanctions reimposed under the so-called "snapback" mechanism at the U.N. Security Council. Eslami was among those targeted by ​sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers and the United States. The deal unravelled after ‌President Donald ⁠Trump pulled the U.S. out of it in 2018, and Western powers triggered the "snapback" mechanism last year to re-impose those sanctions. Iran and allies including Russia do not recognise the reimposed sanctions. Austria said it had requested an exemption for Eslami. "Austria, although being only the host state, submitted a request for an exemption to ​the travel ban to the ​Security Council sanctions committee, ⁠which was rejected," Ambassador Christian Ebner told the conference. "As a consequence, Austria was obliged to deny one member of the Iranian delegation the entry into its ​territory," he said. U.S. Ambassador Preston Wells Griffith III said his country had objected ​in New ⁠York to an exemption being granted, and that was why the application was denied. "The United States objected to the exemption request, which per the rules of the U.N. sanctions committee resulted in the U.N. Security Council denying the ⁠request," ​he said. "His (Eslami's) participation would have only resulted in Iran exploiting IAEA ​proceedings as a stage for propaganda while sidestepping substantive cooperation, undermining the credibility of the very body charged with verifying its nuclear ​commitments," he said, referring to a standoff over inspections . Additional reporting by Elwelly Elwelly in Dubai; Editing by Ros Russell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Suggested Topics: Middle East Governance X Facebook Linkedin Email Link Purchase Licensing Rights