Ian Johnstone – The Conversation

The race to replace U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres may cast a shadow. Vyacheslav Prokofyev/AFP via Getty Images

September 9, 2026

The race for a new UN chief comes at a historically fraught time – the choice will be vital and significant, just don’t expect a savior

Ian Johnstone, Tufts University

The UN Security Council calls the shots when it comes to appointing the body’s chief – which means 5 permanent members have an outsized say on the matter.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, left, spokesman for Iran’s atomic energy agency, listens to a man wearing a surgical mask, an official with the Ahmadi Roshan nuclear site in Natanz, Iran, during a news conference on May 20, 2019. IRIB News Agency via AP

July 15, 2019

What is the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty? Here’s why it’s still important

Ian Johnstone, Tufts University

Nearly 50 years old, the treaty has been signed by 190 countries – more than any other arms limitation treaty. But now Iran is threatening to withdraw.

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