Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, was prevented from attending an annual conference at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna this week. The exclusion followed direct pressure from the United States government, which cited Eslami’s status as a sanctioned individual.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed that Washington actively worked to block Eslami’s entry into Austria. According to Wright, the US denied a request for a sanctions waiver, stating that the administration does not want sanctioned individuals to evade international restrictions. Iran has responded by denouncing the decision, characterizing the exclusion as an obstruction of diplomatic engagement at the UN-affiliated body.

While both sources agree on the core event—that Eslami was blocked from the meeting due to US pressure—the outlets differ in their framing of the responsibility. The Independent focuses primarily on Iran’s reaction and condemnation of Austria, whereas the South China Morning Post (SCMP) explicitly identifies the United States as the primary actor behind the decision and provides the specific justification offered by the US Energy Secretary.