{
  "id": 7311487,
  "title": "US blocks Iran nuclear chief from Vienna meeting",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/us-blocks-iran-nuclear-chief-from-vienna-meeting",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T11:42:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/09/1532785/us-blocks-iran-nuclear-chief-vienna-meeting"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "VIENNA - Iran's nuclear chief was prevented from attending an annual conference at the UN's nuclear watchdog headquarters in Vienna due to US pressure, both Washington and Tehran have confirmed. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, was a sanctioned individual and the US refused to grant him an exemption from sanctions. Iranian state TV reported that Eslami and his delegation arrived in Vienna by regular flight on Saturday, but were blocked due to US obstructions. Behrouz Kamalvandi, a senior official from Iran's nuclear agency, accused the US of exerting political pressure and warned that the incident set a precedent that would affect all. The Austrian foreign ministry said they had requested an exemption for Eslami, who is under a UN travel ban, but the Security Council denied the request due to a lack of consensus. Eslami was scheduled to address the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) annual general conference, which runs until Friday. Eslami had attended last year's event and delivered a speech on Iran's behalf, despite the sanctions against him. Teheran summoned Austria's charge d'affaires in response to the decision to bar Eslami, calling the decision \"unjustified\" and attributing it to US pressure.",
  "summary": "VIENNA: Iran’s nuclear chief was blocked from attending an annual conference on Monday at the headquarters of the UN’s nuclear agency in Vienna after US pressure, both Washington and Teheran said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Iran says US blocked nuclear chief from Vienna atomic agency meeting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/iran-says-us-blocked-nuclear-chief-from-vienna-atomic-agency-meeting",
        "published": "2026-09-14T09:09:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Shadow Man, IRGC flight and a secret meeting: Iran’s hand in Houthi offensive revealed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/shadow-man-irgc-flight-and-a-secret-meeting-irans-hand-in-houthi",
        "published": "2026-09-14T10:49:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Iran denounces Austria for blocking its nuclear chief from a meeting in Vienna",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/iran-denounces-austria-for-blocking-its-nuclear-chief-from-a-meeting",
        "published": "2026-09-14T11:31:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Iran nuclear chief blocked from Vienna meeting by US",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/iran-nuclear-chief-blocked-from-vienna-meeting-by-us",
        "published": "2026-09-14T11:32:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Iran nuclear chief barred from IAEA meeting, Tehran blames US",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/iran-nuclear-chief-barred-from-iaea-meeting-tehran-blames-us",
        "published": "2026-09-14T11:46:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "US blocks Iran’s nuclear chief from Vienna meeting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/us-blocks-irans-nuclear-chief-from-vienna-meeting",
        "published": "2026-09-14T11:57:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Iran protests as US prevents its nuclear chief attending IAEA meeting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/iran-protests-as-us-prevents-its-nuclear-chief-attending-iaea-meeting",
        "published": "2026-09-14T12:46:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "US pressures Austria to withdraw visa for Iran nuclear chief attending IAEA meeting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/us-pressures-austria-to-withdraw-visa-for-iran-nuclear-chief",
        "published": "2026-09-14T13:34:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}