Islamabad (GNP): Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received a phone call from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, during which the two discussed recent regional developments and the importance of continued diplomacy in supporting regional and international peace.
Grossi expressed hope that dialogue between relevant parties would continue following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with the goal of reaching a lasting, peaceful resolution. He also briefed Dar on his candidacy for UN Secretary-General, with Dar reaffirming Pakistan’s strong support for the United Nations and effective multilateral cooperation.
Known as the UN’s “Atoms for Peace and Development” agency, the IAEA serves as the international hub for cooperation on nuclear issues, working with member states to promote the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, born in January 1961, has led the IAEA since December 2019, bringing 40 years of diplomatic experience across peace and security, nonproliferation, and international development. He is often called upon as a neutral broker during international crises.
Before heading the IAEA, Grossi was president-designate of the 2020 NPT Review Conference and served two consecutive terms as president of the Nuclear Suppliers Group from 2014 to 2016 — the first person to do so. In 2015, he chaired the Diplomatic Conference of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, helping secure unanimous adoption of the Vienna Declaration on Nuclear Safety following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
He served as Argentina’s ambassador to Austria and its representative to the IAEA and other Vienna-based international bodies starting in 2013, and earlier held senior IAEA roles including Assistant Director General for Policy from 2010 to 2013. His earlier diplomatic career included posts within Argentina’s foreign service and as Chief of Cabinet at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons from 2002 to 2007.
Grossi has been recognized for his efforts to promote gender equality within the nuclear field, including launching fellowship programs supporting women in the sector, and received the 2025 Changemaker of Distinction Award from Women in Nuclear in recognition of this work. He holds a PhD in international relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.
Over his career, Grossi has received numerous international honors, including awards and recognitions from Brazil, Kazakhstan, Austria, Italy, Colombia, Paraguay, and Peru, along with honorary citizenships and awards from institutions in Argentina and Italy tied to his family heritage. He has also been recognized by professional nuclear organizations for his work supporting international nuclear security and diplomacy.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
