nuclear-news

Syria’s Assad-era reactor configured for nuclear weapons: IAEA

UN watchdog says material now is under IAEA safeguards.

By AP and Reuters, 7 Sep 20267 Sep 2026

Syria’s Assad-era nuclear facility was configured to produce material for possible use in nuclear weapons, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported.

The nuclear reactor, which the United Nations nuclear watchdog has been investigating with the cooperation of Syria’s new authorities, would have been able to produce fissile material that could be used for weapons, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told a media conference in Vienna on Monday.

“This is a reactor that is very efficient in the production of ‌fissile ⁠material that could be used directly for the fabrication of nuclear weapons,” he said.

Grossi’s comments came a week after the UN watchdog revealed in a confidential report that it had visited several sites in Syria in August and carried out verification work.

Based on observations at the Deir Az Zor site, the agency said it confirms “that the cooling infrastructure which has now been uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor”.

The agency added that it would continue to monitor the activities at the site “as the excavation work progresses”………………………

Israel is believed to have its own undeclared atomic weapons programme, which makes it the only nuclear armed country in the Middle East. Israel neither confirms nor denies having nuclear weapons.

The IAEA has said that the former Syrian authorities had failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities……………………..

The Syrian administration – made up of the group that overthrew Assad in 2024 – notified the agency of its existence in July and invited the nuclear inspectors to investigate. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/7/syrias-assad-era-reactor-configured-for-nuclear-weapons-iaea

September 8, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, Syria