Inside Assad’s nuclear secrets

This week, Al Majalla featured a cover story on Bashar al-Assad's nuclear program, following reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in early September 2026. The investigation reveals that Assad's nuclear ambitions were far more extensive than previously thought, with the agency uncovering hidden history, including a fuel fabrication facility, a fuel store, and dozens of tonnes of natural uranium metal.

The IAEA discovered 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal, including 55 tonnes in fuel rods, at a site linked to the programme. While the material was not enriched, its presence indicates that the project went beyond just the reactor construction. At the heart of the story is Brig. Gen. Mohammed Suleiman, a senior official entrusted with Syria's most sensitive strategic weapons programmes.

Born in 1959 in Tartus, Suleiman studied mechanical engineering at Damascus University and rose to become a key aide to President Assad, with ties to North Korea, Iran, and Hezbollah. Suleiman's role remained elusive, with US documents and Israeli accounts detailing his responsibilities in strategic weapons and military ties. After his assassination in August 2008, the US embassy in Damascus acknowledged his "special status" and close relationship with Assad.

The IAEA's findings, published in a confidential report, shed light on the depth of Syria's nuclear programme and the extent of its concealment from international scrutiny.