Iran has banned famed conductor Daniel Barenboim from entering its soil because of his Israeli citizenship, spoiling his plan to lead a performance in Tehran, AFP cited media reports on Sunday, August 30th.
Barenboim, the 72-year-old general music director of the Berlin State Opera House, said Thursday he was in talks with Iran about a concert, in what would have been a major example of cultural diplomacy.
Barenboim also holds Argentinian and Palestinian citizenship.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is expected in October to travel to Tehran following a July 14 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, had agreed to back the concert.
Steinmeier did so because he “supports Daniel Barenboim’s dedication to making music accessible to all people, irrespective of national, religious or ethnic boundaries,” a statement said.