Syria says IAEA will announce 'significant progress' on nuclear file

Syria is set to host a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the coming days, aiming to announce "significant progress" concerning nuclear materials, according to Syria's Atomic Energy Commission. The announcement comes as Syria's new authorities, established after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, have pledged cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog to address the legacy of nuclear activities during the previous regime.

While Syria is not known to possess operational nuclear material for a weapons program, Israel bombed a suspected nuclear reactor in the country's eastern Deir al-Zor province in 2007. The IAEA previously reported finding traces of uranium at the site and at two other related locations. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi had indicated plans for further work in the area to "achieve full clarity regarding past nuclear activities in Syria" as conditions permit.

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achieve full clarity regarding past nuclear activities in Syria

Recent reports, citing Israeli and U.S. officials, suggest the IAEA is poised to remove nuclear material from a clandestine Syrian site. This development reportedly follows understandings reached between the U.S. administration and both Syria and Israel. However, Syria has not officially commented on the potential removal of materials.

A Syrian official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that discussions with the IAEA regarding the nuclear material file are ongoing, and no final agreement has been reached. The official emphasized that Syria is consulting with the IAEA to fulfill its own obligations and explicitly stated that "there is no Israeli role in this process." Consultations are also underway to establish an international support group for technical and legal assistance.

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no Israeli role in this process