Syria was building a nuclear reactor in Deir el-Zour under Assad, UN reports
- UN nuclear watchdog inspectors visited Syrian sites in August 2024 and confirmed the existence of a long-suspected nuclear reactor under construction in Deir el-Zour.
- The IAEA found that former Syrian authorities failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities as required under the NPT Safeguards Agreement.
- The nuclear site included a reactor, a fuel fabrication plant, and a fuel storage facility built under Assad's rule, with the reactor constructed by North Korea.
- The site was publicly revealed after Israel destroyed it with airstrikes in 2007; Syria later leveled the site and did not fully respond to IAEA inquiries.
- The new Syrian government has granted IAEA inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites and expressed interest in developing a civilian nuclear energy program.
- IAEA inspectors discovered approximately 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal in fuel rod form at a previously undeclared site that Syria notified the agency about in July.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in a report circulated Tuesday that Syria operated an undeclared nuclear program under former President Bashar Assad. IAEA inspectors visited multiple sites in August 2024 and verified the existence of a nuclear reactor under construction in Deir el-Zour, along with associated fuel fabrication and storage facilities. The agency determined that Syrian authorities had failed to report these nuclear materials, facilities and activities as required under international safeguards agreements.
The Deir el-Zour site was originally constructed with North Korean assistance and became public knowledge only after Israel destroyed it with airstrikes in 2007. Syria subsequently leveled the site and did not fully respond to previous IAEA inquiries about its nuclear activities. Recent IAEA inspections confirmed that excavated cooling infrastructure is consistent with a nuclear reactor design.
Following Assad's ouster, Syria's new government has cooperated with the IAEA by granting inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites. The agency also discovered approximately 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal in fuel rod form at a previously undeclared location that Syria disclosed in July. The new Syrian authorities have expressed interest in developing a civilian nuclear energy program and stated that any nuclear material found in the country would remain under international safeguards.
联合国报告：叙利亚在阿萨德统治下在代尔祖尔建造核反应堆
国际原子能机构在周二发布的报告中确认，叙利亚在前总统巴沙尔·阿萨德统治下运营了一个未申报的核计划。国际原子能机构检查员在2024年8月访问了多个地点，并确认了代尔祖尔在建核反应堆的存在，以及相关的燃料制造和储存设施。该机构认定叙利亚当局未能按照国际保障协议要求申报这些核材料、设施和活动。
代尔祖尔地点最初由朝鲜协助建造，仅在以色列2007年空袭摧毁后才为公众所知。叙利亚随后夷平该地点，未能充分回应国际原子能机构之前关于其核活动的询问。最近的国际原子能机构检查确认，挖掘出的冷却基础设施与核反应堆设计相符。
在阿萨德下台后，叙利亚新政府与国际原子能机构合作，允许检查员进入疑似前核设施。该机构还在叙利亚7月披露的一处未申报地点发现了约73吨天然铀金属燃料棒。叙利亚新当局表示有兴趣开发民用核能计划，并声称在该国发现的任何核材料都将保持在国际保障措施下。