Syria says IAEA will announce 'significant progress' on nuclear file
BEIRUT, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Syria will host a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency in the coming days to announce "significant progress" on the issue of nuclear materials, Syria's Atomic Energy Commission said early on Tuesday, without providing further details. Since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Syria's new authorities have committed to working with the…
Syria has announced that an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation will visit the country in the coming days to disclose substantial advancements regarding nuclear materials, according to the nation's Atomic Energy Commission. The announcement came early on Tuesday, though no additional specifics were provided.
Following the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Syria's new government has pledged cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog to tackle the consequences of nuclear activities during the Assad family's rule. Although Syria is not believed to possess operational nuclear stockpiles for a weapons program, Israel conducted a bombing raid on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007 in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor.
In 2023, the IAEA disclosed that it had detected traces of uranium during its investigation at the site. These traces were identified at one of three undisclosed locations believed to be functionally connected to the site of interest in Deir al-Zor. Earlier this year, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi indicated that, once conditions permit, the agency intends to carry out additional investigations in the region to achieve a comprehensive understanding of past nuclear activities in Syria.
According to Axios, Israeli and US officials have confirmed that the IAEA intends to remove nuclear materials from a clandestine site in Syria following the Trump administration's agreements with both Syria and Israel. Syria has not commented on the removal of nuclear materials, but a Syrian official familiar with the matter stated that discussions with the IAEA concerning the nuclear material file remain ongoing, and no final agreement has been reached.
A Syrian official with knowledge told Reuters that consultations are underway to establish an international support group to coordinate the necessary technical and legal assistance. The official emphasized that Syria is fulfilling its own obligations and that there is no Israeli involvement in the process.
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