IAEA finds several tons of undeclared nuclear material at Syrian site after Damascus disclosure

The International Atomic Energy Agency discovered “several tons of nuclear materials” at a previously undeclared site in Syria, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced on Tuesday in Damascus. The site dates to the rule of Syria’s former authorities, and the agency accessed it after the current Syrian government notified the IAEA of its existence.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said the material posed no danger and would remain in Syrian custody under IAEA safeguards. At a joint press conference with Grossi, al-Shaibani stated that Damascus had the right to retain and use the material for peaceful purposes. He added that Syria had voluntarily declared the site in a July 17 letter to the IAEA, describing it as part of the legacy left by the ousted regime of former President Bashar al-Assad.

Grossi characterized the Syrian government’s decision to disclose the site as “courageous” and confirmed that an IAEA team had completed its visit to the location that morning, collecting necessary samples. He noted the material could be “used inappropriately,” though he did not specify its exact nature or intended use.

The discovery follows Syria’s commitment to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog after the fall of Assad’s government in late 2024. Assad fled to Moscow in December 2024 as Damascus was captured by a coalition led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, head of the Syrian Islamist group Organization for the Liberation of the Levant. Syria is not known to possess operational stockpiles for a nuclear weapons program, though Israel bombed a suspected nuclear reactor in Deir al-Zor province in 2007.

The IAEA’s findings were first reported by multiple outlets, including France 24 with Reuters, which cited Grossi’s remarks and Syria’s official statements . Additional details emerged from a live blog by Observador, which noted the IAEA’s access to the site and the collection of samples . German outlet Der Standard also confirmed the discovery, quoting Grossi’s comments in Damascus .