Argentine diplomat, IAEA Director General since 2019
Senegal has endorsed former president Macky Sall’s candidacy for United Nations secretary-general, marking a strategic reorientation ahead of the selection process. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has instructed his government to mobilise support, signalling a new coalition-building phase for Dakar. Critics say the move risks justice for victims of past protests.
The United States is pressing Iran over the Pickaxe Mountain site near Natanz, with multiple outlets reporting continued construction, potential centrifuge activity, and warnings of imminent strikes as the war escalates. President Trump has warned of heavy action, while analysts debate the site’s depth and capabilities. International inspectors have not accessed the facility.
Trump has publicly escalated threats against Iran while pursuing options that include a broader military campaign with Israel or a renewed ceasefire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Multiple outlets report that intelligence suggests Iran may have moved centrifuges and uranium to fortified underground sites, with Washington leaning toward a hardline response.
Candidates for the UN secretary-general post have presented reform-minded visions amid a funding and credibility crisis. Straw polls begin late July with a January 2027 appointment target; Latin America is pushing for a regional rotation.
The United Nations chief has urged the immediate removal of sanctions on Syria as he concludes a two-day visit, stressing Syria’s crossroads and the need for investment to rebuild infrastructure, institutions and livelihoods. He has met interim leadership, civil society and UN peacekeepers, while calling for international support to accelerate recovery and safe returns for refugees.
The latest briefing shows heightened tensions as the US and Israel pursue a coordinated approach against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with Netanyahu and Trump signaling strong allied resolve while private channels caution over escalating rhetoric.
The UN Security Council’s informal straw polls have begun to shape the field for secretary-general. Rebeca Grynspan leads on encouragement votes, with other candidates including Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Rafael Grossi, Macky Sall, Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and Olara Otunnu. The process remains flexible, with multiple rounds possible and no consensus yet.
Syria has agreed to surrender its remaining nuclear material to the IAEA under a US-brokered deal. The move is unlikely to resolve core disputes with Israel or advance a broader security agreement, as negotiations remain stalled over territory, withdrawal lines, and other contentious issues.
The UN Security Council has conducted a straw poll for the next secretary-general, with Rodrigues-Birkett leading the field, followed by Grynspan and Grossi. Several other contenders remain, and a formal vote in the General Assembly will determine the outcome. The process involves nine votes in the Council and potential vetoes by the five permanent members.
Brent crude has climbed toward $97 a barrel after renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran over the past week. US strikes have hit sites along Iran's southern coast while Iran has attacked US-linked vessels and bases in the region; shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained and US pump and diesel prices have risen.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has said it has clarified key elements of its probe into a 2007 Israeli strike on a Syrian facility in Deir ez-Zour, calling the development a rare nuclear-diplomacy success. Separately, IAEA monitors have reported they still cannot verify the location or status of Iran’s near-bomb‑grade uranium stockpile, according to a restricted agency document seen by Bloomberg.
The IAEA board has moved to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over non-compliance with nonproliferation obligations, with a vote showing broad support but stalemate due to Russia and China’s opposition. The resolution urges further cooperation and updates on nuclear material and inspections.
The IAEA has terminated its nearly two‑decade investigation into Syria's undeclared nuclear activities after inspectors visited sites in Deir ez‑Zor and a previously undisclosed location. Inspectors have uncovered a near‑complete reactor, a fuel‑fabrication plant and about 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal; the material is now under IAEA containment and surveillance measures.
Iran's state media has touted a new missile test against a US warship, with Tehran claiming a turning point in its defense. The US has hit Iranian oil tankers in response, and both sides warn of further escalation as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains contested.
The IAEA reports that North Korea has expanded its Yongbyon uranium enrichment facility and operates an annex at Kangson. The new Yongbyon building can house up to 28 centrifuge cascades, potentially increasing weapons-grade uranium production. Seoul and Western assessments echo concern about ongoing violations of UN resolutions.
New satellite imagery shows intensified movement at Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz, with reinforced portal accesses and internal road work. The IAEA is monitoring the site while geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high. Trump has warned of a hard response should Tehran advance its nuclear program.
Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn from the UN secretary-general contest after weak support in Security Council straw polls. The withdrawal leaves four candidates and intensifies focus on Latin American leadership in the rotating process ahead of the General Assembly vote.