Syria site infrastructure ‘consistent with nuclear reactor’: IAEA

International Atomic Energy Agency Confirms Infrastructure At Syrian Site Matches Reactor Design

A Syrian site appears to contain infrastructure \”consistent with a nuclear reactor\”, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a confidential report released by AFP on Tuesday, noting that the country under former President Bashar al‑Assad’s rule failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities.

Inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last month visited two sites, one in Deir Ezzor and another location linked to nuclear material identified by Syria.

\”Based on observations made by the agency at the Deir Ezzor site, the agency confirms that the cooling infrastructure uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor,\” the IAEA stated.

The agency said monitoring will continue as excavation work proceeds.

\”Based on the information provided by Syria and the results of the agency’s verification activities across several Syrian locations, the agency establishes that former Syrian authorities failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities,\” it added.

– 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal –

He praised Damascus’s \”courageous decision\” to disclose the previously unseen site, dating back to al‑Assad’s regime.

IAEA director Rafael Grossi highlighted the country’s \”courageous decision\” to share information about the hidden facility, emphasizing renewed transparency and cooperation with the agency.

Grossi emphasized the importance of these disclosures while acknowledging ongoing inspections.

Beyond the \”nuclear reactor under construction\” at Deir Ezzor, the agency documented a fuel‑fabrication plant where nuclear fuel was produced and a storage area holding nuclear fuel, uranium scrap and radioactive waste.

Grossi reported last month in Damascus that IAEA inspectors discovered several tonnes of nuclear material at a site Syria had disclosed in July.

– 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal –

No nuclear material or equipment was detected at two additional Syrian sites the agency inspected on 19 August, though results from environmental sampling are still pending.

The IAEA reaffirmed its earlier assessment that the under‑construction reactor matches a gas‑cooled graphite‑moderate nuclear reactor design.

Grossi welcomed Syria’s transparency and cooperation, stating that \”the country has taken steps to remediate the situation by providing required nuclear material accounting reports and design documentation\” for the facilities.

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