The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on September 24 that Syria attempted to build a nuclear reactor in the eastern province of Deir Az Zor under former President Bashar al-Assad. The information was disclosed in a confidential IAEA report accessed by news agencies.
According to the report, IAEA inspectors visited multiple sites in Syria in August for verification work. Based on observations at the Deir Az Zor site, the IAEA confirmed that “the cooling infrastructure now exposed is consistent with a nuclear reactor.” The agency said it would continue to monitor activities at the site as excavation progresses.
Syria has long been suspected of running a large-scale undeclared nuclear program under al-Assad, including a reactor built by North Korea at Deir Az Zor. The site only came to light after an Israeli airstrike destroyed it in 2007. Syria subsequently leveled the area and never fully answered IAEA questions.
In the September 24 report, the IAEA stated it had been able to “determine that previous Syrian authorities failed to declare nuclear material, facilities, and related activities.” In addition to the unfinished reactor at Deir Az Zor, the IAEA listed a fuel fabrication plant for the reactor and a storage site for fuel, scrap, and uranium waste.
During a visit to Syria, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and senior inspectors also went to a previously undeclared site. The new Syrian government had notified the agency of the site's existence in a July 17 letter and invited IAEA cooperation for inspection. The IAEA confirmed the site contains “natural metallic uranium in the form of clad fuel rods,” approximately 73 tons, all of which is under IAEA seal and surveillance.
The new Syrian government has expressed interest in developing a civilian nuclear energy program and affirmed that any nuclear materials found in the country will remain under Syrian control, subject to international safeguards.
