WANA (Sep 14) – Speaking from Vienna, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), condemned U.S. pressure that prevented AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami from attending the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference.

 

He urged the UN nuclear body and its member states to resist such coercion and hold Washington accountable to IAEA rules and regulations.

 

Kamalvandi described the U.S. action as destructive and “childish,” warning that it sets a dangerous precedent that affects all international members.

 

“For this reason, we must resist such aggressive political pressure,” Kamalvandi stated. “I believe it is the responsibility of the IAEA and all member states to pressure the U.S. government to abide by regulations, particularly IAEA procedures, rather than submitting to external interference.”

 

Eslami was originally scheduled to speak on the opening day of the conference. However, reports indicate the Austrian host government denied his entry under U.S. pressure.

 

Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to Vienna-based international organizations, emphasized that “the visa revocation and its legal justifications clearly reflect a political move and formal politicization within the organization.”

 

The decision also drew strong criticism from Russia’s envoy to the IAEA, Mikhail Ulyanov, who accused Western nations of abusing visa procedures to apply political leverage against rival nations.