IAEA Confirms Assad-Era Syria Hid Nuclear Reactor and 73 Tonnes of Uranium

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Syria under Bashar Assad failed to declare nuclear material, facilities and activities required by its safeguards agreement, including a reactor under construction at Deir el-Zour, a fuel-fabrication plant and a storage site. Inspectors visiting Deir el-Zour on August 29 found newly uncovered cooling infrastructure consistent with a nuclear reactor. Syria later disclosed another undeclared site, where inspectors verified about 73 metric tonnes of natural uranium metal. The agency says the material is now under its containment and surveillance, and its outstanding safeguards questions have been clarified and resolved.