Grossi: Assad-Era Reactor in Syria Was Designed to Produce Nuclear Weapons Material

A reactor built during Bashar al-Assad's rule in Syria was designed to produce material “directly suitable for making nuclear weapons,” IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said Monday in Vienna. He said he was not assessing Syria's intentions, but stressed the significance of the reactor's design.

The IAEA is working with Syria's current government to examine the nuclear program established under Assad. Agency experts recently secured tons of previously undisclosed uranium and stocks of reactor fuel. The site at Deir al-Zour was almost complete when Israel attacked and destroyed it in 2007.

The IAEA concluded in 2011 that the facility resembled a reactor in North Korea, a state with nuclear weapons. At the time, however, the agency did not clearly state whether the Syrian site was suitable for a military nuclear program. Syria's former leadership denied having such intentions.

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Directly suitable for making nuclear weapons.

Assad was overthrown in December 2024. The current government, led by transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has provided information about the former nuclear program. Grossi said Syria's case differed from Iran's, because Syria had taken a transparent approach while Tehran has not cooperated with the IAEA or explained the purpose of former Iranian nuclear sites.

“Perhaps this could give others food for thought,” Grossi said, referring to Tehran. He added that Syria's transparency had helped the country restore relations with other states.

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Perhaps this could give others food for thought.