Damascus – In a significant move toward renewed international cooperation, Syria’s newly established government has agreed to grant immediate access to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for inspection of suspected former nuclear sites. This development marks a pivotal shift in the country's posture following years of isolation and speculation surrounding its clandestine nuclear activities.

The announcement was made by IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi during a visit to Damascus on Wednesday, where he held talks with Syria’s new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and senior officials. Grossi characterized the discussions as “constructive” and praised the administration’s willingness to “open up to the world.”

“The new leadership is clearly committed to international cooperation,” Grossi stated, emphasizing the agency’s intent to resolve long-standing questions about Syria’s nuclear past. “We want to bring full clarity to activities that may have been linked to nuclear weapons development.”

This visit represents the agency's first direct engagement with the Syrian government since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad last December. The IAEA aims to complete the renewed inspection efforts within a few months, signaling optimism that the country may be ready to rejoin the global community on more transparent terms.

The development also follows the recent lifting of U.S. and EU sanctions on Syria, suggesting a wider trend of international reintegration. However, not all global players are on board. Israel has intensified its military activity across Syria, conducting over 200 strikes in the past six months despite indirect peace talks between the two nations in May.

The IAEA last visited some of the relevant sites in 2024. Under Assad’s rule, Syria was believed to have run a covert nuclear programme, including an undeclared reactor constructed with North Korean assistance in the eastern Deir ez-Zor province. The facility, which was never acknowledged by Syrian authorities, was destroyed in a 2007 Israeli airstrike.

Grossi confirmed that inspectors will return to the Deir ez-Zor site, along with three additional locations suspected of nuclear relevance. The mission will also include safeguarded facilities such as the miniature neutron source reactor in Damascus and a yellowcake uranium processing plant in Homs.

Although there have been no confirmed radiation leaks, Grossi expressed concern over the possible presence of enriched uranium. “If such material exists unaccounted for, it could be smuggled, reused, or trafficked,” he warned.

As Syria begins what appears to be a new chapter on the global stage, the international community will be watching closely to see whether transparency and cooperation can replace the secrecy of the past.


By WafricNews Desk.