IAEA Director‑General Rafael Grossi said on Monday a reactor built in Deir
ez‑Zor during the Assad era was designed to efficiently produce fissile material
directly usable for nuclear weapons. The IAEA, which inspected the site in
August with cooperation from Syria’s new government, confirmed newly discovered
cooling infrastructure consistent with a reactor, found previously concealed
nuclear material now placed under IAEA safeguards, and has installed on‑site
cameras; monitoring will continue as excavation proceeds.
