Damascus says recovered material will remain under Syrian custody with IAEA safeguards as authorities expand nuclear cooperation
DAMASCUS: The International Atomic Energy Agency has discovered and collected nuclear material at a site in Syria’s eastern Deir al-Zor province, according to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.
Saudi state-owned Al-Hadath reported on Tuesday that al-Shaibani confirmed the discovery while speaking alongside IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Damascus.
According to the foreign minister, Syrian authorities will retain custody of the recovered material while placing it under IAEA safeguards and supervision.
“We will provide the necessary conditions for handling nuclear materials and storing them safely,” al-Shaibani said.
Damascus Grants IAEA Access to Site
Moreover, al-Shaibani said Damascus had voluntarily allowed IAEA inspectors to access the Deir al-Zor site. He described cooperation between Syria and the UN nuclear watchdog as having reached “advanced stages.”
Grossi said the agency gained access after Syrian authorities notified it about the site.
Furthermore, the Syrian foreign minister maintained that his country retained the right to use nuclear material for peaceful and civilian purposes while meeting international safeguards and safety requirements.
The development marks another step in efforts by Syria’s post-Assad government to address unresolved questions surrounding the country’s previous nuclear activities.
Authorities Address Assad-Era Nuclear Legacy
Since Bashar al-Assad’s government fell in late 2024, Syria’s new authorities have pledged greater cooperation with the IAEA over nuclear-related activities dating from decades of Assad family rule.
Syria is not publicly known to possess an operational nuclear weapons programme or an active stockpile intended for weapons development.
However, the country’s nuclear history has remained under international scrutiny for years.
In 2007, Israel bombed a facility in Deir al-Zor that it identified as a nuclear reactor under construction.
Consequently, the latest discovery could help inspectors clarify outstanding questions about activities at Syrian nuclear-related sites while allowing Damascus to demonstrate greater transparency under the country’s new political leadership.
