Iran has barred famed conductor Daniel Barenboim from entering the Islamic republic because of his Israeli citizenship, denting plans he had for a performance in Tehran, a news agency reported Sunday, according to AFP.
Barenboim, 72, 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. But an Iranian culture ministry spokesman, Hossein Noushabadi, said Barenboim could not enter the country for "security reasons", though the Berlin orchestra was welcome.