Iran’s envoy to international organisations in Vienna, referring to the US opposition to Iran’s membership in the General Committee of the IAEA conference, has termed the support and approval for Iran’s membership “yet another political defeat” for the US, IRNA reports.

Reza Najafi told reporters that the conference has a body known as the General Committee, tasked with reviewing the agenda, the session schedule, and credentials.

He added that Iran had been nominated for membership in the committee by the MESA group — a geographical grouping — and was set to be approved.

However, the US, persisting in its “habitual approach of bullying and unilateralism”, opposed Iran’s membership in the General Committee, forcing the conference to put the matter to a vote.