The interim general director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Romanian ambassador Cornel Feruţă, and the high Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi are still in the race to occupy the leadership position of this institution, dpa reports, quoted by Agerpres.

The IAEA has begun the process of selecting a new CEO after the death of Japanese Yukiya Amano in July. Member States are trying to fill this gap quickly, in the context where the agency is deeply involved in regulating the issues facing the Iranian nuclear agreement and is monitoring the recent expansion of Tehran’s nuclear program, notes dpa.

Lassina Zerbo, executive secretary of the Organization for the Total Prohibition of Nuclear Experiences, was removed from the race on Monday, having won the lowest number of votes in the secret vote from the 35 countries of the IAEA Board of Governors based in Vienna, according to G4Media.

In the first split vote, organized on Monday, Feruţă received 17 votes, Grossi 16, and two countries abstained, diplomats quoted by the IAEA said.