Speaking to reporters at the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, Kamalavandi said, “Preventing the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran from attending the General Conference would set a precedent that would affect everyone. Therefore, we must stand up to such bullying and political pressure.”
He added, “This recent malicious action by the US government can only be described as childish behavior.”
Kamalvandi stressed that the IAEA and other countries have a duty to pressure the US government to abide by the rules, particularly the agency’s rules of procedure, and to reject pressure on various countries and the international body.
The Austrian government, acting contrary to its obligations as the host of international institutions and under pressure from the US, revoked Eslami’s visa, preventing him from attending the IAEA General Conference.
The 70th IAEA General Conference opened Monday in Vienna with a broad agenda covering the agency’s annual report, nuclear science and technology, technical cooperation, safeguards implementation, and discussions on prohibiting attacks against nuclear facilities.
