Syria constructed a clandestine nuclear reactor in Deir el-Zour and maintained a stockpile of approximately 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal under the leadership of former President Bashar Assad, according to a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency report circulated to member states and reviewed by The Associated Press. Inspectors who visited the country in August confirmed the long-suspected atomic sites and reported that former authorities failed to declare nuclear material and facilities as required under the NPT Safeguards Agreement.
IAEA Confirms Deir el-Zour Reactor Infrastructure
International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors traveled to the Deir el-Zour site on Aug. 29 to monitor excavation work, according to the confidential agency report. Observers confirmed that the uncovered cooling infrastructure aligns with that of a nuclear reactor. The location first came to public attention after Israeli airstrikes destroyed the facility in 2007. Syria subsequently leveled the site and avoided answering agency questions for years.
Did you know? The International Atomic Energy Agency took samples at the Deir el-Zour site in 2024 that tested positive for uranium particles, setting the stage for the August verification visits under Syria’s new government.
Undeclared Uranium Metal and Fuel Facilities Discovered
During the verification mission, agency director general Rafael Grossi and senior inspectors visited a previously undeclared location. Syria notified the agency of this site in a July 17 letter and invited inspections. The agency verified the presence of around 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal in the form of fuel rods with cladding, according to the document.
The agency identified three additional locations functionally related to the Deir el-Zour project. One site handled conversion and fuel fabrication activities, a second provided temporary storage for construction materials, and a third managed materials transfer alongside planned reprocessing activities.
New Syrian Authorities Pursue Civilian Nuclear Energy
The new Syrian government has expressed interest in developing a civilian nuclear energy program. Officials stated that all nuclear material discovered across the country will remain in Syrian custody under international safeguards. The IAEA confirmed that all 73 tonnes of uncovered natural uranium metal are currently subject to agency containment and surveillance measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did IAEA inspectors find in Syria?
Inspectors confirmed a nuclear reactor under construction at Deir el-Zour, a fuel fabrication plant, and approximately 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal in fuel rods with cladding at a newly disclosed site.
Why was the Deir el-Zour site not inspected earlier?
Israel destroyed the facility in a 2007 airstrike, after which Syrian authorities leveled the ground and failed to respond fully to IAEA inquiries during the rule of Bashar Assad.
Who authorized the recent IAEA inspections?
Following Assad’s ouster, the new Syrian government agreed to grant agency inspectors access to the suspected facilities and invited verification of the newly disclosed nuclear material.
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