Tons of nuclear materials discovered in Syria; IAEA commends Damascus for reporting them

A new cooperation between Damascus and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has opened a sensitive file concerning the legacy of Syria’s previous nuclear activities, following IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi’s announcement that inspectors had found “a few tons” of nuclear material at an undeclared site within the country.

Grossi said during a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Damascus that Syrian authorities had informed the agency of the site’s existence, enabling its inspectors to access and inspect it.

He explained that the significance of the discovery lies in the potential for misuse of the materials found, while al-Shibani stressed that the materials are not hazardous and will remain under Syrian control, subject to IAEA safeguards and used solely for civilian and peaceful purposes.

This development comes amid growing cooperation between Syrian authorities and the IAEA to clarify files related to nuclear activities dating back to previous years, after the agency revealed traces of uranium in 2025 at one of the sites linked to its prior investigations in Syria.