Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed Rome’s endorsement during a conference in Villa Madama, praising the IAEA chief’s pivotal role in peace-building and nuclear security.
ROME — The Italian government has officially announced its support for the candidacy of Rafael Grossi, the current Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The confirmation came on Tuesday from Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during the first conference on Italophony held at Villa Madama, in the presence of Grossi himself. The Argentine diplomat, who has led the UN’s nuclear watchdog since 2019, had previously expressed his intention to compete for the top international post last August.
“We are proud that he leads the Agency and we wish to support him so that he advances to the head of the United Nations,” Tajani stated, as reported by the Italian outlet Libero. The minister emphasized that Grossi “plays a fundamental role in building peace, dealing with the nuclear sphere.”
Grossi, the first Latin American to head the Vienna-based agency, has seen his profile rise significantly due to his hands-on management of high-stakes crises, most notably the war in Ukraine. His frequent visits to the front lines to inspect the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have been credited with preventing a potential radiological disaster.
During the event in Rome, Grossi acknowledged that “the wheel has begun to turn” regarding the succession process and revealed he has already held conversations on the matter with U.S. authorities.
According to an unwritten practice within the UN, the role of Secretary-General rotates by world regions. The next period would theoretically correspond to Latin America and the Caribbean, a factor that strengthens Grossi’s bid. The current Secretary-General, António Guterres, is serving his second term, which concludes at the end of 2026.
Grossi’s tenure at the IAEA has been marked by intense diplomatic activity not only in Ukraine but also regarding Iran’s nuclear program. His combination of technical expertise and political negotiation skills has made him a prominent figure on the global stage.
The Argentine’s security situation reflects the sensitivity of his current position. The Wall Street Journal reported that since the spring of 2025, Austria has reinforced his security detail with the special police unit EKO Cobra, following “credible threat” alerts originating from Iranian sources.
Italy’s endorsement is a significant early boost for Grossi. Tajani highlighted the deep cultural and political ties between the two nations, noting Grossi’s Italian heritage as a bridge. “He is an Argentine of Italian origin who speaks our language perfectly,” Tajani noted, framing the support within the context of Italy’s renewed diplomatic push to connect with the “Italic” community worldwide.
If successful, Grossi would face the challenge of leading a United Nations that is currently grappling with deep divisions among the permanent members of the Security Council, particularly between Western powers and the Russia-China bloc.
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