Austria says ‘lack of consensus’ at UN led to ban on Iran nuclear chief

Austria said on Monday that a decision to exclude Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, from entering the country to attend the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna was because there was no consensus at the UN Security Council.

Austria’s foreign ministry said it had requested an exemption to a current UN travel ban on Eslami but was denied.

“Austria, as the host country of the International Atomic Energy Agency, applied to the relevant committee of the United Nations Security Council for an exemption from the existing UN travel ban for Mr Mohammed Eslami,” the ministry said.

“Subsequently, Austria was informed by the president of the United Nations Security Council that the request had been rejected due to a lack of consensus. Entry could therefore not be permitted in view of Austria’s international obligations,” it added.

“Austria wants to make negotiations in Vienna possible. We do so on the basis of international law and our international obligations.”