Iran says barring nuclear chief from IAEA conference violates sovereign rights

The 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency opened Monday in Vienna with a broad agenda covering the agency's annual report, nuclear science and technology, technical cooperation, safeguards implementation, and discussions on prohibiting attacks against nuclear facilities. The annual session runs through Friday at the Vienna International Centre, bringing together member state representatives to deliberate on the agency's 2027 budget, nuclear security, technical assistance programs, and safeguards enforcement.

Iran's envoy to Vienna-based international organizations, Reza Najafi, described the barring of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) head Mohammad Eslami from delivering his scheduled address as a clear violation of Iran's rights, saying it conflicts directly with the IAEA Statute and the principle of equal participation for all member states. The move followed U.S. efforts that blocked Eslami from speaking. Behrouz Kamalvandi, Spokesperson and Deputy Head of the AEOI for International, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, is set to speak on behalf of the Iranian delegation later this week.

Iran submitted a formal request to the IAEA Secretariat seeking to add an item to the agenda regarding the "prohibition of all forms of attacks or threats of attack against safeguarded nuclear sites and facilities dedicated to peaceful purposes." In an explanatory note, Tehran emphasized that targeting or threatening safeguarded nuclear infrastructure poses grave risks to nuclear safety and security, undermines the IAEA safeguards regime, and disrupts peaceful nuclear development.

Iran stated that such actions breach the IAEA Statute, fundamental principles of international law, and the UN Charter's prohibition on the threat or use of force. The Iranian delegation urged the General Conference to examine the legal, institutional, and technical dimensions of attacks against peaceful nuclear sites, hold perpetrators accountable, and address the consequences for the non-proliferation regime.

According to Mehr News, the dispute over Eslami's address and Iran's agenda request comes as member states gather in Vienna for the week-long session, which will also address the agency's 2027 budget, nuclear security, technical assistance programs, and safeguards enforcement.