IAEA: Syria's Deir ez-Zor Nuclear Reactor Was Near Completion, Capable of Weapons Production
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that a nuclear reactor discovered in Syria's Deir ez-Zor region was "almost complete" and could have been used to produce weapons.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced on Monday that the reactor only needed fuel loading to become operational. His remarks follow a recent UN agency report confirming that facilities found at Deir ez-Zor, linked to activities under the former Assad regime, matched the specifications of a nuclear reactor. While not explicitly stating military intentions, Grossi emphasized that Syrian officials at the time "did not want the world to know what they were doing."
Grossi further explained that the reactor's design and technical characteristics made it highly efficient for producing fissile material suitable for nuclear weapons. He did not rule out the possibility that Syrian authorities may have conducted "explosions" to hinder investigations into the site's true nature. The Deir ez-Zor site, located in eastern Syria, has been sealed for 18 years. Israel acknowledged in 2018 that it had bombed the site 11 years prior, stating it targeted a nuclear reactor under construction.
The IAEA also reported finding a nuclear fuel production site and 73 tons of natural uranium, including 55 tons of fuel rods and the remainder as waste. Grossi indicated that the decision on the Syrian nuclear file now rests with the IAEA's Board of Governors and that he has not yet received a mandate to investigate alleged links between the program and North Korea.
A draft resolution expected to be voted on this week calls for closing the Syrian nuclear file. Grossi added that the IAEA will continue working with Syria to ensure the safety of materials and report its findings. He welcomed the cooperation and transparency shown by current Syrian authorities, deeming it "crucial for Syria to revive its economy and restore its relations in political, economic, and other fields with the international community."
