Syria was building a nuclear reactor under former President Assad, UN report finds

Key Points:

• A U.N. report confirms Syria, under former President Bashar Assad, constructed a nuclear reactor in Deir el-Zour, along with related facilities for fuel fabrication and storage, violating NPT Safeguards Agreement reporting requirements.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visited the Deir el-Zour site in August 2024, verifying the existence of cooling infrastructure consistent with a nuclear reactor and uncovering related sites involved in fuel processing and storage.
• The nuclear site was initially exposed after Israeli airstrikes destroyed the reactor in 2007, and Syria had not fully cooperated with the IAEA until the new government allowed inspections following Assad’s ouster.
• The IAEA also inspected a newly declared site in Syria containing approximately 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal fuel rods, which are now under agency containment and surveillance.
• Syria’s new authorities have expressed interest in developing a civilian nuclear energy program and assured that any nuclear material found will remain under international safeguards within Syria.