Key facts
- The US blocked Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, from attending an IAEA meeting in Vienna.
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated Eslami is a sanctioned individual and his request for a waiver was denied.
- Iranian state television reported Eslami and his delegation were blocked from traveling to Vienna.
- Tehran described the US action as a violation of diplomatic norms.
The United States has blocked Iran's top nuclear official, Mohammad Eslami, from attending a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on Monday that Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, is a sanctioned individual and his request for a waiver to attend the conference was denied. Iranian state television reported that Eslami and his delegation were "blocked on the way because of obstructions by the United States" while traveling to Vienna. Tehran protested the decision, describing it as a violation of diplomatic norms.