Iran Nuclear Chief Barred From IAEA Conference After US Pressure

Iran's vice president for nuclear affairs, Mohammad Eslami, has been prevented from addressing the International Atomic Energy Agency's general conference in Vienna, after the United States urged Austria to deny him entry.

Eslami, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, had been scheduled to speak at the UN nuclear watchdog's gathering on Monday. Iranian media reported that he had left Tehran to attend the conference. Austria's decision meant a requested sanctions waiver that would have allowed him to enter the country was not granted.

The absence of a senior Iranian envoy at the opening of the conference carries symbolic weight. His attendance and an early speaking slot could have been read as lending credibility to Tehran, seven months into a US and Israeli military campaign that President Donald Trump has described as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. A lower-level Iranian representative may still address the gathering later in the week.

Austria's government declined to comment directly, referring questions to its foreign ministry, which did not immediately respond.

With Eslami absent, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright is set to use the forum to deliver a warning to Tehran. According to an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the speech, Wright will state that Washington's position is unequivocal: "Iran must never develop or obtain a nuclear weapon."

Wright is also expected to call on Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA, meet its safeguards obligations and provide the access the agency needs to carry out its work.

His remarks follow an IAEA warning that the agency had observed construction activity at Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified site suspected of housing nuclear-related activity. Trump cited "a little activity at Pickaxe" last Wednesday and warned Iran "not to get cute, because we will have to hit them very hard."

Wright is expected to highlight the IAEA's founding mission, which extends beyond nuclear security to verifying safeguards and delivering peaceful nuclear technology to member states. He is slated to urge the agency to prioritise operational efficiency, cut redundant programmes and ensure member-state funding upholds the nuclear nonproliferation regime, arguing that a disciplined IAEA focused on its core technical mandate would benefit all members.

The appeal comes as the Trump administration pushes to accelerate nuclear power to meet surging electricity demand. In July, the US and Saudi Arabia finalised a long-sought nuclear technology-sharing deal that could allow American companies to build reactors in the kingdom.

Wright is also expected to describe the US as committed to working with the IAEA and member countries to promote peaceful nuclear technology, saying American nuclear leadership means American technology backed by high standards of safety, security and nonproliferation.