Syria opens Assad-era nuclear programme to UN probe

Syria has opened the way for the United Nations to probe the remains of a nuclear programme operated by ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.

Syria’s government stated on Tuesday that it was working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the UN watchdog reported it had identified several tonnes of nuclear material at a site in Damascus.

Syria had noted the site to the IAEA last month. The material found was not dangerous and will remain in Syrian custody, subject to guarantees, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated.

Since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, Syria’s authorities have committed to working with the IAEA to address the legacy of nuclear activities carried out during the decades of Assad family rule.

The IAEA inspectors visited two sites, one in Deir ez-Zur and “a second location related to the nuclear material identified by Syria recently”, according to a joint statement.

Speaking at a news conference in Damascus, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi praised the government’s “courageous decision” to report the undisclosed site.

“We are talking about a few tonnes of nuclear material that could be put to bad use,” he remarked, promising that it would be placed under international safeguards.