A new UN Secretary-General will be elected next year to replace António Guterres for a five-year term starting January 1, 2027.
Pursuant to Article 97 of the United Nations Charter, the United Nations General Assembly appoints the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council.
Current candidates include Michelle Bachelet (former president of Chile), Rebecca Grinspan (former vice president of Costa Rica), and Rafael Grossi.
Argentina has officially recommended Grossi, the current Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as a candidate for the UN’s top post for the period 2027-2031.
However, his record raises serious concerns. Rather than embodying fairness and peace, Mr. Grossi has repeatedly demonstrated bias and selective enforcement of nuclear norms.
Analysts say Grossi is a highly unsuitable candidate, citing political bias, lack of real commitment to world peace and failure to respond to acts of aggression.
Experts on Iran, whose peaceful nuclear program has long been the target of biased reporting and military attacks, say such a person cannot lead the United Nations, an institution that stands for justice and neutrality.
The nomination highlights the UN’s challenge in choosing leaders who resist prioritizing Western interests over global equity.
Grossi’s tenure at the IAEA, which began in December 2019, has been marked by actions that many developing countries view as politically motivated. His leadership at the agency was often perceived as a means of pressure rather than impartial oversight.
Iran has consistently said that Mr. Grossi has issued reports to the IAEA board that lack technical basis and reflect lobbying efforts by the United States and Israel.
He unfairly highlighted Iran’s lack of cooperation while ignoring clear evidence of NPT violations elsewhere.
International law experts describe this approach as blatant bias and say it undermines peace by stirring up unnecessary tensions.
This bias was evident in June when Israel, with US support, launched a military attack on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities.
The attack was a serious violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which guarantees member states the right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
Despite this violation of international law, Grossi and the IAEA remained silent and did not condemn the attack or hold the perpetrators accountable.
His inaction exposed double standards and revealed him as an enabler of selective application of nuclear norms.
Although Grossi publicly defends nuclear diplomacy, his silence in the face of Israeli aggression, including attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, the assassination of Iranian scientists such as Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, and now a direct military attack, amounts to tacit support for hostile measures.
His track record of supporting unilateral resolutions against Iran further reinforces the perception that he is aligned with hegemonic interests rather than impartial mediation.
Experts have warned that Grossi’s selection will undermine the UN’s credibility. Iranian judicial official Ali Mozaffari said in July that the IAEA’s misleading reporting paved the way for repeated attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, resulting in the loss of scientists, citizens and infrastructure.
International observers echoed these concerns, with Russian academic Vladimir Yevseyev saying in November that Mr. Grossi’s report effectively gave Israel the green light to attack Iran, and that the subsequent attack in June confirmed the dangers of biased reporting.
In conclusion, Rafael Grossi’s nomination is a crucial test for the United Nations. As global tensions rise, organizations need leaders who can bridge gaps, foster dialogue, and maintain equity.
Mr. Grossi’s record of bias, selective enforcement, and silence on offense makes him an unsuitable candidate.
What the United Nations needs is a Secretary-General whose actions will unite the world, not one whose actions will deepen divisions.
The international community must look beyond narrow political interests and elect leaders who are truly committed to peace, justice and equality for all member states.
Apparently, if Mr. Grossi becomes secretary general, he will serve as a political tool for Western countries to put pressure on independent states.
Report by Tohid Mahmoodpour