The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, is not expected to attend the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, marking the first time in many years that he will miss the annual meeting. According to a U.S. official familiar with the situation, Eslami is barred from international travel due to U.N. sanctions. His absence is another sign of the worsening relations between Iran and Western nations, which have seen renewed conflict following the breakdown of a temporary ceasefire in July. Austria, which hosts the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna, typically has the authority to request exemptions for sanctioned individuals to attend U.N.-related meetings. However, Austria’s request for a travel exception for Eslami was denied by the U.N. sanctions committee. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue, confirmed the denial but emphasized that the matter remains sensitive. This comes after Israel and the United States conducted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025, which Iran has not allowed IAEA inspectors to access, despite being required to cooperate under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The IAEA has also been unable to confirm the current status of a stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which is close to the 90% threshold for weapons-grade material. Iran claims it holds 440.9 kilograms of this enriched uranium but insists it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and that its program is peaceful. Last year, France, Britain, and Germany activated a “snapback” mechanism, which automatically reinstated U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear activities. These sanctions include a travel ban on Eslami, restrictions on arms exports, limits on ballistic missile development, asset freezes, and bans on nuclear-related technology. Despite the reports of Eslami’s exclusion, Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, reported that he had left Tehran for Vienna to attend the IAEA conference and meet with international representatives. Eslami has regularly participated in the IAEA’s General Conference since 2021, when he was appointed head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. The IAEA’s member states will gather in Vienna from Monday to Friday to approve the agency’s budget and discuss global nuclear policy, including safeguards in the Middle East.