Archive · 8 Sep 2026
IAEA Says Secret Syrian Reactor Could Have Made Weapons Material
The IAEA is an organization that checks how countries use nuclear materials.
It confirmed that Syria was secretly building a nuclear reactor before Israeli jets destroyed it in 2007.
The reactor was almost finished and could have made material used in nuclear weapons.
The IAEA said this created a serious concern, but Rafael Grossi said the former leaders’ intentions could not be judged from the findings alone.
Inspectors also found about 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal at another site.
Some of the uranium was hidden in fuel rods.
Syria’s new government allowed inspectors to visit sites and install cameras.
The IAEA said the outstanding questions about Syria’s past nuclear activities had been resolved.
The IAEA confirmed that a bombed site in Syria’s Deir al-Zor province was a nearly completed nuclear reactor.
The reactor was destroyed by Israeli jets in 2007 and could have efficiently produced fissile material usable in nuclear weapons.
The agency said Syria had made reactor fuel and should have declared the site and related activities.
IAEA inspectors found around 73 metric tons of natural uranium metal, mainly in fuel rods with cladding, at another site.
Since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster in late 2024, Syria’s new authorities have provided access and information to resolve past safeguards questions.
- Who
- The International Atomic Energy Agency, led by Rafael Grossi, Syria’s authorities, and Israeli forces are central to the account.
- What
- The IAEA confirmed that Syria had nearly completed an undeclared reactor capable of producing fissile material and found about 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal.
- When
- Israeli jets destroyed the reactor in 2007; inspectors visited the sites in August after Bashar al-Assad was ousted in late 2024.
- Where
- The reactor site was in Syria’s eastern Deir al-Zor province; the uranium was found at a second site whose location was not disclosed.
- Why
- The activities raised nuclear-proliferation concerns because the reactor and fuel production were not declared to the IAEA.
Proliferation Concern
Unresolved Intentions and Future Handling
Meaning of the reactor
Proliferation Concern
The IAEA said the reactor’s configuration and technical features could have enabled efficient production of fissile material directly usable in nuclear weapons, creating a serious proliferation concern.
Unresolved Intentions and Future Handling
Rafael Grossi cautioned that the intentions of Syria’s authorities at the time could not be judged solely from the reactor’s capabilities.
Status of the uranium
Proliferation Concern
The IAEA said the roughly 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal had been hidden and that controlling it under safeguards was important.
Unresolved Intentions and Future Handling
The agency said Syria’s government must decide whether the material remains in Syria or is removed; a nuclear-security expert suggested it could eventually be transported to a third country once safe to move.
- Agency
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- Reactor site
- A nearly completed reactor in Syria’s Deir al-Zor province
- Destruction
- Israeli jets destroyed the reactor in 2007
- Weapons concern
- The reactor type could efficiently produce fissile material usable in nuclear weapons
- Uranium discovery
- Around 73 metric tons of natural uranium metal, mainly in fuel rods with cladding
- Inspection access
- Syria’s new authorities allowed IAEA inspectors to visit two sites and install cameras
- IAEA conclusion
- The agency said outstanding safeguards questions about Syria’s past nuclear activities had been resolved
