IAEA finds nuclear material in Syria

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi concluded a visit to Syria, where inspectors discovered several tons of nuclear material at an undeclared site. The find reopens questions about Syria's nuclear activities, linked to the former regime. Grossi praised Damascus for its "courageous decision" to report the site, a legacy of the former Assad regime. Grossi's visit included inspections at a Deir Ezzor site, reportedly bombed by Israel in 2007 due to suspicions of an undeclared nuclear reactor. The IAEA has investigated the undeclared nuclear program there since 2008, with uranium particles reportedly found during a 2024 inspection. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed Syria informed the IAEA about nuclear materials at an undeclared site, a legacy of the former government. Minister al-Shaibani stated technical assessments indicate these materials do not pose a risk and will remain under Syrian national custody, subject to the agency's safeguards system. He reiterated Syria's sovereign right to use nuclear energy for civilian and peaceful purposes. Director General Grossi stated that while the material "could be put to bad use," it would now be accounted for and placed within the safeguards system. This cooperation marks a major shift from the previous government's approach, which faced scrutiny over its alleged clandestine nuclear program. The new Syrian authorities have expressed a desire for full transparency. The IAEA and Syrian experts will now work together to safely store and monitor the materials. This is seen as a crucial step towards resolving questions regarding Syria's past nuclear activities and ensuring non-proliferation.