Argentinian diplomat Rafael Grossi has been chosen as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), beating his rival Cornel Feruta of Romania in a vote by the UN body’s board of governors.
Mr Grossi, a diplomat for over 35 years, overcoming his rival by 24 votes to 10 and just securing the two-thirds majority needed in the 35-member board of governors for selection.
After his appointment is approved by the IAEA General Conference, which consists of representatives of all 171 member states, Mr Grossi will take office on January 1. He will then have to contend with crucial issues facing the UN nuclear watchdog including the Iran nuclear deal and nuclear aggression from North Korea.
"I will do my job and I think my job is to implement the mandate in a manner which is independent, which is fair, which is neutral," Mr Grossi told reporters on the issue of Iran as he accepted the result of the vote.
"What I think is important is that I give my member states and the international community the guarantee that I am absolutely independent and impermeable to pressure," he added.
The business of the IAEA has been overshadowed in recent years by infighting over the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The accord, struck between Iran and China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain and the US, curbed Tehran’s nuclear powers in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Washington withdrew from the agreement in May 2018.
Experts have indicated that at times the agency has appeared too close to Tehran, becoming a defender of the agreement.
Andreas Persbo, the executive director of the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre told The National Mr Grossi had indicated he would be "firm but fair" on the issue of Iran but the new IAEA head's approach would also be one of continuity.
“You should tell it as it is,” Mr Persbo explained. “You shouldn't be trying to massage the compliance data if there is a compliance concern and it is the duty of the agency to highlight it. Conversely if there isn't one, it is the duty of the agency to highlight that too.
“I think the tone will perhaps be perceived as slightly more crisp vis a vis Iran but in terms of actual implementation I don't think I see anything changing,” he added.
It appears that key to Mr Grossi’s victory in the recent vote was the backing he received from the United States. Mr Feruta, by contrast, received the backing of Russia. This standoff between the two major IAEA players is one of the reasons the Argentinian diplomat’s confirmation came on such a slim margin.
When he spoke to The National on the sidelines of the IAEA's General Conference in September Mr Grossi, insisted that the organisation must defend the credibility of the global nuclear status quo.
“We are there to ascertain, to check, monitor and verify and tell it as it is, and I am extremely confident in that role,” he said. "We are an instrument of transparency and we are an intelligent instrument of transparency.”
