Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has been acting as a mediator between the West and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and the Iranian government. Grossi recently met with Putin to warn him about the dangers of restarting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which has been occupied by Russian troops since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. During their conversation, Putin expressed openness to a negotiated settlement in Ukraine if President Volodymyr Zelensky was willing to give up nearly 20% of the country. Grossi also traveled to Tehran to discuss the Iranian government's nuclear program and their openness to negotiation. Grossi finds himself at the center of two critical geopolitical standoffs: the conflict in Ukraine, which puts nuclear reactors at risk of being hit and releasing radiation, and Iran's potential development of nuclear weapons. While Grossi sees himself as an inspector rather than a mediator, he believes he can be useful in facilitating dialogue.
Grossi's role as a mediator has become crucial in the ongoing conflicts between the West, Russia, and Iran. He recently met with Putin to discuss the dangers of restarting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which is currently occupied by Russian troops. Putin expressed a willingness to negotiate a settlement in Ukraine if certain conditions were met. Grossi also traveled to Tehran to discuss Iran's nuclear program and explore possibilities for negotiation. His position as the director general of the IAEA puts him in a unique position to facilitate dialogue and address the risks associated with these conflicts [fe3cc7a3].