IAEA Director says Syria has tons of nuclear material
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday that the agency had found large quantities of nuclear material in Syria, amounting to tons, that could be misused.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Damascus, Grossi said the agency’s current work requires extensive verification to account for all nuclear material in Syria.
He said Syria voluntarily informed the agency in July about the materials and allowed inspectors access to them, adding that Syria’s openness enabled the agency to work with greater transparency.
Grossi said his visit to Damascus marked an important step in efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. He stressed that the agency was working to restore Syria’s full compliance with its legal obligations related to nuclear nonproliferation.
“Syria is turning the page on the past and starting a new chapter in nuclear cooperation,” Grossi said.
For his part, al-Shaibani said Syria had granted the agency access to the Dayr al-Zour site and another site linked to the discovered nuclear materials through a sovereign decision.
He stressed that Damascus had chosen transparency and pledged to strengthen cooperation with the agency.
Al-Shaibani said the materials would remain in Syria’s possession and be subject to IAEA safeguards, stressing Syria’s sovereign and legal right to the civilian and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
He added that Damascus expected Grossi’s report to reflect the progress achieved in nuclear cooperation, noting that the next steps would include further cooperation and support from the agency for Syria.