IAEA Director-General Critiques UN’s Lack of Action in Global Conflicts
In a recent speech, Rafael Grossi, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed disappointment over the United Nations’ absence in addressing some of the world’s major conflicts. He made these comments during an event in London as part of his campaign for the UN Secretary-General position, which will be vacated by Antonio Guterres at the end of his term this year.
The process to select a new Secretary-General involves nominations from the Security Council, the UN’s most powerful body, followed by a general meeting of the organization. This year, five candidates were officially nominated, with Grossi’s main rivals thought to be former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and ex-General Assembly president Maria Fernanda Espinosa.
Grossi highlighted his involvement in two significant conflicts: the ongoing war in Ukraine and tensions between Iran and the United States. His leadership has drawn attention as the IAEA accused Iran of breaching international law for the first time in two decades, which led to U.S. military responses against Iran’s nuclear facilities. As of now, there is an ongoing ceasefire and negotiations between both nations, with Washington pressing for a long-term halt to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
During his remarks, Grossi also mentioned the civil war in Sudan and the conflicts involving Israel and its neighbors. He pointed out that, after many years, conflicts between states are re-emerging not just in Europe but across Africa and beyond. “The United Nations is not engaged in managing or resolving these conflicts,” he mentioned, sensing a need for a more proactive role.
He added, “It’s unlikely to change unless there’s a different approach.” For Grossi, it hinges largely on leaders of the conflicting countries believing that UN involvement would improve the situation compared to the current status quo.
Drawing from his experience with the IAEA, Grossi believes that it’s feasible for the UN to intervene in these disputes. He noted that bureaucracy often hinders timely action, as responsibilities have been delegated to various officials instead of being handled directly by the Secretary-General. If elected, he would consider shutting down some of these positions.
“In international peace and security, the Secretary-General has both a moral and a legal duty to uphold these roles,” he asserted, stressing that the increasing complexity within the UN needs to be addressed.
Grossi’s bid for the UN leadership has garnered support back home in Argentina, particularly given the current administration’s focus on downsizing governmental functions.
As for the ongoing crisis with Iran, Grossi’s agency has criticized Iran for obstructing inspections of its nuclear sites and for neglecting agreements made under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He lamented that this agreement seems to exist only in theory, with little implementation by the involved parties.
In a report to the IAEA Board of Directors, Grossi highlighted Iran’s lack of cooperation, stating that it has failed to adequately address inquiries from authorities, complicating verification efforts.
This led to the IAEA concluding, for the first time in two decades, that Iran had violated international law—a resolution that preceded U.S. military strikes on several of Iran’s significant nuclear sites. Subsequent retaliatory threats against Grossi from Iranian officials showcased the tensions stemming from these accusations.
Amid these developments, Grossi has remained engaged in discussions around potential peace initiatives, emphasizing that any effective deal would necessitate regular inspections of Iran’s nuclear activities by the IAEA. “Iran’s extensive nuclear program requires our inspectors to be present,” he mentioned, underscoring the challenges of establishing a genuine agreement without verification.
