Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has announced his candidacy for UN Secretary-General

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has officially announced his intention to run for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

“I will be a candidate for Secretary-General of the United Nations,” said 64-year-old Argentine diplomat Jorge Grossi at a news conference in Washington.

The announcement came after months of speculation about his desire to take on the top diplomatic post.

Grossi announced at the conference that he will begin the formal nomination process in the coming weeks and has spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the decision.

According to the unwritten tradition of the United Nations, the next Secretary-General is expected to be from the Latin American region, as the position rotates periodically between different regions.

If successful, Grossi would be the second Secretary-General from Latin America, after Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru.