Iran protests Austria’s refusal to issue visa to nuclear chief Eslami

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the head of Austria’s diplomatic mission in Tehran and lodged a strong protest over Vienna’s refusal to issue a visa to Mohammad Eslami, Iran’s vice president and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

“They should have issued a visa to the Iranian delegation in accordance with all international laws. We immediately took action and summoned the Austrian chargé d’affaires to express our protest,” Baghaei said during his weekly press conference.

Eslami had planned to travel to Austria to attend the 70th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Baghaei said that even if Austria refused to issue the visa under pressure from Washington, this did not relieve Vienna of responsibility for its decision.

Earlier reports said Austrian authorities, following a request from the United States, had refused to grant Eslami a visa. The decision prevented him from traveling to Austria to attend the IAEA General Conference and address the meeting on Iran’s nuclear program.

Stabil.Az