IAEA finds ‘tons’ of nuclear material in Syria; Damascus says it will remain under safeguards

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi announced on Tuesday that inspectors have discovered several tons of nuclear material in Syria at a site reported by authorities last month. Grossi praised Damascus for its decision to disclose the site, which dates back to the Assad era, and confirmed the material would be placed under international safeguards. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, speaking alongside Grossi, stated that Damascus officially notified the agency on July 17 regarding the presence of nuclear materials at an undeclared site left by the former regime. Al-Shaibani asserted that the materials pose no risk, will remain in Syrian custody under IAEA oversight, and maintained Syria's right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Grossi also visited the Deir Ezzor site, which was bombed by Israel in 2007. He stated that ongoing excavation and exploration work at the site validates the IAEA's long-standing assessment that a secret nuclear facility was being constructed there.