UNITED NATIONS — Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi is positioning himself as a leading contender to succeed António Guterres as Secretary-General of the United Nations, emphasizing the need for a more proactive leadership approach in a turbulent global landscape.
Grossi, who currently heads the International Atomic Energy Agency, made his case during a three-hour presentation at UN headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, where he fielded 49 questions from Security Council members and civil society representatives. The session concluded just as former U.S. President Donald Trump announced an extension of the truce with Iran — a development directly tied to Grossi’s agency, which oversees Tehran’s nuclear program.
During the interview, Grossi warned that Iran retains sufficient enriched uranium to produce more than ten nuclear weapons, citing over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity. He noted that although this material does not yet constitute a nuclear bomb, it represents a critical component that could be further enriched to weapons-grade levels within weeks.
“In a couple of weeks, it could reach 90% enrichment,” Grossi stated. “Does that mean Iran has a nuclear bomb? No. But it means they possess a key ingredient for a nuclear weapon — for several, in fact, for more than ten.”
He emphasized that despite recent Israeli and U.S. Military strikes against Iran, the country’s nuclear assets remain largely unchanged from their status prior to the June 2025 conflict. Grossi said the enriched uranium is likely still stored in underground facilities at Isfahan and Natanz, though he declined to characterize those sites as secure.
The IAEA chief expressed concern that ongoing hostilities could empower hardline factions within Iran that have long advocated for nuclear weapons development. He urged a return to negotiations, calling the nuclear dispute a two-decade-long challenge requiring a durable diplomatic solution.
Grossi said he is confident he can secure the backing of Security Council members — a crucial step in the UN secretary-general selection process — and argued that without decisive reform, the United Nations risks descending into “a slow agony” in an increasingly fragmented world.
His candidacy reflects a broader push for fresh leadership at the UN amid mounting global crises, with regional balance and gender representation also playing significant roles in the ongoing deliberations.
