IAEA to Reinspect Suspected Nuclear Sites in Syria \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Syria’s new leadership has agreed to grant U.N. nuclear inspectors access to previously restricted nuclear sites. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi met with President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who also voiced interest in nuclear energy. The agency hopes to conclude inspections within months and resume medical nuclear cooperation.
Quick Looks
- Syria’s new government approved immediate IAEA access to suspected nuclear sites.
- Director-General Rafael Grossi met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus.
- Al-Sharaa expressed interest in peaceful nuclear energy for Syria.
- IAEA aims to complete inspections within months and clarify Syria’s nuclear past.
- The agency seeks access to four main sites, including Deir el-Zour reactor.
- Previous inspections were obstructed under former President Bashar Assad.
- Israel destroyed the undeclared Deir el-Zour reactor in a 2007 airstrike.
- Concerns remain over potential undeclared enriched uranium material.
- Grossi also discussed nuclear medicine aid and post-war medical infrastructure support.
- Talks on Iran’s nuclear deal continue, with IAEA set to verify any agreement.
Deep Look
In a significant shift from years of nuclear opacity, Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmad al-Sharaa has agreed to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) immediate access to suspected former nuclear sites across the country. The announcement was made during an exclusive interview with IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi in Damascus, where he met directly with al-Sharaa and other senior officials.
The move marks a major diplomatic turning point following the fall of former President Bashar Assad in late 2024, whose regime was long accused of operating a clandestine nuclear weapons program. Under Assad, Syria refused to fully cooperate with international inspectors and actively obstructed investigations after the destruction of a suspected undeclared reactor by Israeli airstrikes in 2007.
Grossi described the new Syrian government as “committed to opening up to the world” and emphasized the importance of bringing “total clarity” to Syria’s past nuclear activities.
“We want to clarify activities that were, in the agency’s judgment, probably related to nuclear weapons,” Grossi said.
Revisiting Suspected Nuclear Weapons Sites
One of the IAEA’s top priorities is re-inspecting the Deir el-Zour site—a facility suspected of housing an undeclared reactor built with North Korean assistance. The IAEA previously determined that the facility was not configured to generate electricity, raising concerns that Syria had sought to produce weapons-grade plutonium.
Israel, the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state, destroyed the reactor in a 2007 airstrike. Afterward, Syria leveled the remains of the site and failed to answer the IAEA’s questions, effectively halting the investigation. The agency was able to revisit some sites in 2024, but full access had not been restored until now.
Grossi confirmed that inspectors will return to Deir el-Zour and three additional locations possibly linked to Syria’s nuclear efforts. Other declared facilities include a miniature neutron source reactor in Damascus and a yellowcake uranium processing site in Homs.
“We are trying to narrow the focus to those sites that could pose the most concern,” Grossi said.
While there is no evidence of radiation leakage, Grossi warned that undeclared enriched uranium may still be present, raising risks of smuggling or illicit use.
A New Nuclear Future?
Beyond inspections, Syria has expressed interest in developing nuclear energy for civilian purposes. According to Grossi, President al-Sharaa posed the rhetorical question: “Why not?” when asked about peaceful nuclear ambitions.
Syria’s plans are still in early stages, but Grossi suggested the country may eventually explore small modular reactors (SMRs)—a newer and more manageable technology gaining traction across the region. Nations like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan are all investing in nuclear infrastructure to meet future energy demands.
The IAEA is also prepared to support Syria in nuclear medicine and oncology, particularly as the country’s healthcare system has been devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war. Grossi stated that the agency will help rebuild radiotherapy and diagnostic infrastructure, marking a shift from inspections alone to nuclear humanitarian assistance.
A Regional Context: U.S.–Iran Talks Continue
While in Damascus, Grossi also addressed another nuclear hotspot: Iran. He confirmed the IAEA remains in constant contact with both U.S. and Iranian negotiators amid ongoing efforts to revive a nuclear agreement or establish a new framework.
“They are negotiating—it’s not us,” Grossi said, “but the IAEA will be the guarantor of any future deal.”
Though the talks remain contentious, especially over uranium enrichment levels, Grossi expressed cautious optimism, emphasizing that both sides appear genuinely interested in reaching an agreement.
“It’s an enormous advantage when both parties want a deal,” he said. “That’s not always the case in diplomacy.”
The IAEA’s role as a neutral verification body will be key in any future deal with Tehran, just as it is now in Syria, where Grossi sees an opportunity to reset a long-fraught relationship and potentially reframe how nuclear transparency is pursued in volatile regions.
Conclusion: From Secrecy to Transparency?
Syria’s sudden willingness to allow full access to the IAEA represents a dramatic departure from years of obstruction and suspicion. Whether this marks a genuine pivot toward international norms or a strategic calculation remains to be seen. But Grossi’s optimism suggests that after nearly two decades of secrecy and conflict, a new chapter in Syria’s nuclear narrative could be beginning—one centered not around proliferation, but peaceful use and international trust.
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