IAEA Chief Says Former Syrian Reactor Was Configured for Nuclear Weapons Material

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi stated that a secret nuclear reactor built under former Syrian President Bashar al Assad was designed for the efficient production of fissile material usable in nuclear weapons. The facility, located in the eastern province of Deir al Zor, was nearly completed before being destroyed by Israeli jets in 2007. While Grossi noted that the reactor was a serious proliferation concern, he cautioned that he cannot judge the specific intentions of the former Syrian authorities. Recent investigations by the IAEA have uncovered approximately 73 metric tons of natural uranium metal and reactor fuel from the Assad era. Since the ouster of Bashar al Assad in late 2024, the new Syrian government has cooperated with the IAEA to resolve outstanding safeguards issues and disclose past nuclear activities. Grossi welcomed this transparency, suggesting that such cooperation could serve as an example for other regimes, specifically referencing Iran, which has blocked IAEA access to certain facilities. A center left source framed the story as a cautionary lesson for Iran, while a center right source focused on the validation of the 2007 Israeli military strike.