IAEA General Conference opens amid Iran visa dispute

The 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has commenced in Vienna, marked by diplomatic tensions regarding Iran's participation. Iranian representatives, including Rıza Necefi, criticized Austria for denying a visa to Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Iran and Russia argued that this decision violates the IAEA Statute, which guarantees equal rights and benefits to all member states.

During the conference, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi issued warnings regarding global nuclear proliferation. Grossi noted that the agency has been unable to conduct field verification activities in Iran for over six months, with the exception of one inspection at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in June. He expressed serious concerns regarding the lack of continuity in information regarding Iran's inventory of uranium enriched to 60 percent.

Grossi emphasized that a world with more nuclear weapons and more nuclear-armed states is not a safer world, calling for a return to diplomacy and negotiations. Meanwhile, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright criticized Iran's lack of transparency as ‘unacceptable,’ stating that Tehran has been given sufficient time to meet its obligations.