Austria: IAEA conference opens in Vienna as Austria denies visa to Iran’s nuclear chief.

SHOTLIST: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (SEPT. 14, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF UNITED IAEA CONFERENCE VENUE 2. VARIOUS OF IAEA 70TH GENERAL CONFERENCE 3. VARIOUS OF DELEGATES ATTENDING CONFERENCE 4. VARIOUS OF OPENING SESSIONVIENNA, AUSTRIA - SEPT. 14, 2026: The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 70th General Conference opened in Vienna on Monday, Sept. 14, amid a dispute over Austria’s refusal to admit the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Ministers, officials and diplomats from the agency’s member states attended the opening session at the United Nations Office at Vienna. Iran and Russia criticized the decision preventing Mohammad Eslami and his delegation from attending, arguing that Austria failed to treat IAEA members equally. Austria said the visas were denied under a UN travel ban after a request for an exemption failed to receive approval. The US acknowledged that it had objected to the exemption. Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and his accompanying delegation had planned to travel to Vienna on Saturday but later returned to Tehran, according to IRIB. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei on Monday confirmed the visa refusal, calling the move “absolutely unjustified.” He said Tehran had formally protested the decision and summoned Austria’s charge d’affaires, adding that US pressure should not prevent host countries from fulfilling their obligations. The annual conference will address the agency’s activities and budget, nuclear safety and security, safeguards, technical cooperation and peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Delegates will also consider draft resolutions and elect new members of the IAEA Board of Governors. The conference is scheduled to conclude on September 18.