The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that a nuclear reactor constructed during the Assad era in Syria was configured to produce fissile material for potential use in nuclear weapons. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi described the "configuration" and "technical features" of the reactor as "very efficient in the production of fissile material that could be directly used for the fabrication of nuclear weapons."
Grossi made these remarks on Monday at the start of a regular meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna. He noted that the program was never declared and was consistently denied by Syrian authorities. "Of course, that was never declared, that was always denied, so, and again, intentions cannot be judged, but that was a very serious proliferation concern that we had, and this has been difficult work," Grossi told reporters.
Syria was believed to have maintained an extensive, undeclared nuclear program under the former President Bashar Assad, which included a nuclear reactor reportedly built by North Korea in the eastern Deir el-Zour province. Following Assad's ouster, the new Syrian government granted IAEA inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites.
During a visit in August, IAEA inspectors confirmed that "the cooling infrastructure which has now been uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor." Grossi and a team of senior inspectors also visited a previously undeclared site. Syria had notified the agency of this site in a July 17 letter, inviting cooperation for inspection and verification of any nuclear material found.
An IAEA confidential report circulated to member states last Tuesday, and seen by The Associated Press, indicated that the newly revealed site contained "natural uranium metal in the form of fuel rods with cladding." The agency verified approximately 73 tonnes of this material.
Grossi described the August inspection, during which inspectors had to "tear down walls" and navigate "very difficult and narrow passages" to access the hidden nuclear material. The site contained "boxes scattered all over the place."
The IAEA has confirmed that the discovered nuclear material is now under agency safeguards, with cameras installed at the location. Grossi stated that the decision on whether the material remains in Syria or is removed rests with the Syrian government, emphasizing the agency's priority is to continuously monitor the material's location.
Experts note that while natural uranium metal is not directly usable for a nuclear weapon, it could be diverted to a covert program for further processing into plutonium. If deemed safe, the material could potentially be transported to a third country for secure disposition, a process that would require robust security measures against theft or sabotage.