Austria's Visa Denial Sparks Diplomatic Row at IAEA Conference

Austria's decision to deny Iran's atomic chief a visa has sparked a diplomatic row at the IAEA conference in Vienna. Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, accused Austria of violating its obligations as host country by not issuing a visa to Mohammad Eslami.

Najafi claimed that the move was a 'serious breach' of Tehran's rights as a member nation and contravened both the letter and spirit of the legal framework governing attendance at IAEA meetings.

Russia's ambassador to the UN in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, echoed Iran's stand, saying Austria had 'grossly violated' its obligations as host nation. He accused Western countries of unleashing a campaign of visa-related abuses to settle scores with undesirable countries.

The IAEA has not been given access to Iranian nuclear sites hit during the June 2025 war and has also been unable to verify the status of Iran's stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium, which stands at 440.9 kilograms enriched up to 60 per cent purity.