Damascus (HRNW)- Syria has placed 73 tons of natural uranium under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in a move Foreign Minister Asad al-Shaibani described as a turning point that closes the country’s 15-year-old nuclear non-compliance file.
According to Syria’s official news agency SANA, Shaibani told the IAEA General Conference via video link that the IAEA Board of Governors unanimously decided on September 9 to close Syria’s nuclear file, which had remained open since 2011.
He said Damascus had sent an official letter to the IAEA on July 17, disclosing the presence of nuclear material at an undeclared site, before signing a cooperation roadmap with the agency on July 29.
Shaibani added that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited the facility on August 16, following a closure that had lasted for nearly two decades.
Syrian and IAEA experts have since begun removing remnants of a reactor located beneath reinforced concrete at the site.
The Foreign Minister said Damascus had also provided the design information and inventory reports requested by the IAEA Board since 2011. He said Syria’s Atomic Energy Commission managed to address the outstanding issues within weeks despite limited resources.
The development marks a new phase of cooperation between Syria and the IAEA following years of disputes over the country’s nuclear activities.
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