UN Secretary-General Candidates on Iran War, Keeping the Peace

Summary

Several candidates to become the next UN Secretary-General addressed how to keep the peace amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis and Security Council deadlock, each offering diplomatic approaches focused on dialogue, impartial mediation, and persistent engagement.

• Candidates emphasized the Secretary-General's role when the Security Council fails to act.
• Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett proposed presenting options to the Council even without member agreement.
• Macky Sall called for building corridors of dialogue amid great-power tensions.
• Rebecca Greenspan cited the Black Sea grain deal as a similar case of opening trade routes to stabilize markets.
• Michele Bachelet stressed prevention, good offices, and humanitarian assistance.
• Rafael Mariano Grossi noted the rarity of agreed resolutions and the need for impartiality.
• Maria Fernanda Espinosa highlighted spillover effects on energy and food prices and the need for an honest broker.