Syria grants IAEA access to Deir ez-Zor site after 18 years

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani announced that Damascus has granted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to a site in Deir ez-Zor province for the first time since 2008. The decision marks a significant step in the war-torn nation’s efforts to re-engage with international oversight bodies after nearly two decades of isolation on nuclear issues.

Transparency pledge

Speaking at a joint press conference with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in the Syrian capital, al-Shaibani emphasized that the country’s approach to the nuclear file is rooted in transparency. He said cooperation between Syria and the IAEA has now reached an advanced stage, noting that the current administration is actively dealing with the legacy left by the previous government. Al-Shaibani added that the "new Syria" seeks constructive engagement with the international community to resolve outstanding issues.

Grossi, for his part, expressed gratitude to Syrian authorities under President Ahmed al-Sharaa for their commitment to working with the agency. He stated that nuclear material dating back to the former regime had been discovered at the Deir ez-Zor facility, adding that joint efforts will ensure Syria’s nuclear activities are no longer associated with weapons development. The IAEA chief said the agency will maintain a complete inventory of these materials to ensure they are safely stored and secured under international standards.

Post-Assad transition

Former President Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in late 2024 as opposition forces seized Damascus, ending the Baath Party’s decades-long grip on power. A transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa was subsequently established in early 2025, marking a new chapter in the country’s diplomatic relations and international standing.