The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, highlighted a growing rift within the United Nations Security Council over resolutions concerning Iran. In an interview with the Council on Foreign Relations, Grossi noted that consensus on Iran-related measures, once routinely achieved without a vote until 2016 or 2017, has dissipated, and he saw little prospect for its return in the near future. He emphasized the importance of sustained diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States, urging patience to allow for political solutions.

Grossi also underscored the critical role of the IAEA in any prospective agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear program. Without the agency’s clear and effective involvement from the outset, he warned that parties risk falling into “the illusion of reaching a deal.” He described oversight by the IAEA as essential, contending that mechanisms lacking its participation would be inherently ineffective. Additionally, Grossi, a candidate for the UN secretary-general position, framed the challenge of building consensus on Iran as symptomatic of a broader structural crisis within the Security Council.

In parallel remarks at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Iran’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik condemned recent US-Israeli actions against Iran as seriously damaging core principles of the international system, including trust, norms, and accepted rules. He characterized the world’s complexity as incompatible with resolving conflicts through threat and force, accusing the US government of employing a confrontational and dehumanizing rhetoric toward other nations.

Talaei-Nik criticized what he described as “maniacal hubris” on the part of the US leadership, alleging explicit declarations of intentions to seize natural resources, erase civilizations, rename geographical features, and alter legal systems in countries such as Venezuela and Cuba. He warned that such policies risk driving the world towards “dangerous, uncontrollable, and unpredictable” conditions, with significant political and security repercussions for countries and organizations including the SCO.

The Iranian official also pointed to what he sees as the international system’s failure to enforce the UN Charter and respond effectively to acts of aggression. He called for genuine dialogue, respect for national sovereignty, and avoidance of unilateral actions as prerequisites for restoring stability. Talaei-Nik cautioned that escalating tensions and ongoing threats undermine any legitimate attempts to achieve global peace.

Regarding Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of recent hostilities, Talaei-Nik said Iran would permit passage through the strategically vital waterway only after the cessation of US-Israeli attacks, which Iran said began in late February and ended with a ceasefire on April 8. He acknowledged international apprehensions about Iran’s current restrictions on transit but framed them as defensive measures in response to aggression. With an eye toward easing tensions, he noted that safe and smooth transit of commercial vessels could resume post-conflict, contingent upon adherence to protocols protecting Iran’s security. These remarks come amid ongoing discussions within Iran’s government and parliament about establishing a new legal framework for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.