US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iran’s atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami will reportedly miss the annual General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), taking place in Vienna this week, as he is barred from international travel, according to an official who is familiar with the development.
This is amid worsening ties between Iran and the West and continued skirmishes between the US and Iran as the fragile truce they have observed since July collapses. According to the official, Austria had approached the United Nations’ sanctions committee seeking permission for Eslami to travel to Vienna to attend the IAEA conference, but the move was unsuccessful. However, the official was not authorized to make public comment regarding the matter and thus preferred anonymity.
The Austrian capital is home to many United Nations organizations, and Austria may request waivers to the travel ban of sanctioned individuals to attend meetings within the United Nations system. However, there is some uncertainty over Eslami’s participation. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday that he had left Tehran for Vienna to attend the IAEA conference and hold meetings with representatives of different countries. Eslami has regularly attended and addressed the IAEA General Conference since becoming head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization in 2021.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Why Is Eslami’s IAEA Attendance Significant?
The absence of Eslami will be important since the IAEA still finds itself in the middle of all the worries that the world community has about Iran’s nuclear program. This organization experiences some problems regarding verifying the state and whereabouts of Iran’s nuclear material after attacks against Iranian nuclear plants.
The 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency is being held in Vienna, at the headquarters of the organization, between 14 and 18 September 2026. Delegates from the 181 members of the organization are attending this annual conference, discussing such topics as IAEA’s budget, nuclear verification, and Middle Eastern situation.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: What Happened To IAEA Access In Iran?
Since Israel and the United States bombed Iran’s nuclear sites during the 12-day war in June 2025, Iran has denied IAEA access to nuclear sites attacked during the war. This situation has made it hard for the watchdog to conduct its verification processes. Under its obligation to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Tehran is obliged to cooperate with the IAEA.
IAEA has also been unable to verify the status of the stockpile of highly enriched uranium by Iran after the attacks in June 2025. According to the IAEA, Iran has a stockpile of 440.9 kg, or 972 pounds, of uranium that is enriched up to 60%. Uranium with an enrichment of 90% is regarded as a weapon-grade material. Iran, however, claims that it does not intend to develop nuclear weapons and insists that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Why Is Iran Under A Travel Ban?
The travel bans placed on Eslami are due to the UN sanctions that were reinstated following France, Britain and Germany’s activation of the so-called ‘snapback’ procedure in regards to Iran’s nuclear programs. The European nations said Iran had deviated from the obligations stipulated by the nuclear deal signed in 2015 which promised sanctions relief in exchange for constraints on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Some of the sanctions reinstated under the ‘snapback’ procedure include a travel ban, arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missiles, asset freeze and sanctions regarding the production of nuclear-related technology. The travel ban is one of the major reasons why Austria asked for a special exemption for Eslami prior to the IAEA conference. According to the official, this exemption was denied.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: What Does Iran Say About Its Nuclear Programme?
Iran has always refuted the claims suggesting that the country is attempting to make nuclear weapons. According to Tehran, the nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes only. On the other hand, limited IAEA access to some sites involved makes the situation even more alarming due to the inability of the agency to verify all activities related to nuclear program. The issue of inspection has now become one of the main topics of conflict between Iran and the West and has made the process of rapprochement even harder.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Will Eslami Attend The IAEA Conference?
Eslami’s presence is still unclear given the conflicting sources. A source informed about the situation stated that Eslami was not going to attend the conference since the travel ban exemption request sent by Austria had not yet been granted. But Iranian state news agency IRNA stated that Eslami had already left Tehran and gone to Vienna where he will attend the conference and visit the representatives of other countries.
Thus, his eventual attendance is definitely one of the issues to pay attention to during the IAEA General Conference that lasts until September 18. And of course this year’s meeting takes place within the context of rising tensions between Iran, US and Western countries over Iran’s nuclear program.
