By Francois MurphyVIENNA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The United States blocked Iran's nuclear chief from attending this week's U.N. atomic watchdog meeting in Vienna by opposing an exemption from so-called "snapback" U.N. sanctions, prompting protests from Tehran on Monday.Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami had been due to attend and address this week's International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference, an annual meeting of IAEA member states that began on Monday. At the opening, however, Iran said Austria had revoked Eslami's visa after originally granting him one.

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization is not expected to attend the annual gathering of the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s member nations in Vienna for the first time in many…

FILE - Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami speaks at a news briefing in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)