Israeli explosions have landed on Iranian nuclear sites. They have also landed on the deafness of the United Nations and the muteness of its watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Iran-Israel conflict demands that the U.N. and the IAEA have heads who will hear and speak with accountability and results.
For years the United Nations has played deaf to Tehran’s obsession to obliterate Israel. Its sign language has been thumbs-up on trusting Iran but thumbs-down on stopping its bomb-making uranium enrichment.
All the while the U.N. shows the back of its hand to Israel for defending itself against the selfsame Iran cum Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi.
And what of the International Atomic Energy Agency? As Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion” justifiably shreds Iran´s atomic assets, IAEA reveals itself as a paper tiger all along. IAEA’s muteness on Tehran’s cheating goes without saying.
Then last week IAEA’s Director-General Rafael Grossi finally called out Iran in breach of its obligations. Why suddenly?
Because Grossi is running for the U.N. Secretary-General job up for grabs in 2026.
Fact-checking this with AI produced the following: “His recent assertiveness on IAEA matters appears linked to building visibility for a bid.”
Yes, Grossi is trumpeting his candidacy while he trombones Iran. His overture includes IAEA lyrics onto a campaign melody. For a year he will serenade the very states he is charged with monitoring and criticizing.
Now suddenly the Israel-Iran conflict recruits Grossi as understudy to U.N. Secretary-General “No Show” Guterres. How will Grossi handle this explosive script? Spoiler alert: His lines soon empty into campaign slogans.
Unfortunately, this is an all-too-familiar plotline in multilateral circles.
IAEA’s sudden vigilance goes beyond Tehran’s malfeasance.
Only last week did the IAEA chief again find the voice to assert that North Korea is building a new uranium-enrichment facility. This writes Grossi another refrain in his try at musical chairs.
The United States provides to the IAEA $200 million annually for nuclear security — not for ambitious bureaucratic job seekers.
In the meantime, IAEA failings are incubating Iran’s nuclear arms which could hatch any day now. This threatens not only America and its allies, but international peace and security, perhaps worldwide.
And a nuclear Iran could mean the reckoning of the entire U.N. which is overdue for a viability and relevance overhaul. A frustrated U.S. Congress has pondered again whether to pull its plug altogether.
But, at this critical time, scuppering the creaky U.N. into the East River is not the best option. The way to salvage the U.N. in short order is by leadership change at the top, a secretary-general realigning its purpose, work ethic, and mission.
The White House launched a 180-day review of U.N. effectiveness due in August. Its findings will factor into President Trump’s September U.N. speech.
Predictably he will propose a task list to the U.N. boss: provide crisp accountability, end mission creep and focus laser-like on the U.N.´s original purpose — ensuring peace and security.
Other countries will likely add that until the U.N. can do the right thing and do the thing right, there will evolve other means to manage world affairs. They are already cutting their contributions as is the United States.
Secretary-general candidates, take note: The era of U.N. dream weaving and self-dealing is over. No more window-dressing by its deep-state insiders. Bring expectations, resources, and results in line.
And adopt “accountability” as the new watchword in all activities. The UN as an arena for conflict resolution must be open and operating 24/7 — for instance whenever Israel and Iran want to take it to the streets.
This goes for any U.N. official thinking of the secretary-general post, such as U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, World Trade Organization head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, U.N. Management boss Catherine Pollard, or UNCTAD head Rebeca Grynspan.
So, candidate Grossi, do not expect to tie-dye IAEA’s serious mission with your job-hopping politics.
Please put your candidature back in the bottle. Fix your attention on the IAEA program of work. If you are head-hunted as secretary-general material, let your IAEA performance speak for itself.
But if you remain a public candidate, resign your IAEA post immediately. Do not sell short the IAEA’s moral authority in the crass campaign marketplace. Show respect for the IAEA as you would for the entire U.N. Organization if selected to head it.
Jolted by the Iran-Israel conflict, countries must reset the U.N. and the IAEA to hear and to speak as intended, under accountable management, with resolve and consequence now and beyond.
Hugh Dugan served as Acting Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (2019-20) during his career as a U.S. diplomat. He sits on the advisory boards of Hostage Aid Worldwide and the James L. Foley Legacy Foundation. Read Hugh Dugan’s Reports — More Here.
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