Overview
- The IAEA told member states it detected a significant number of natural uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at one of three locations allegedly linked to the long-suspected Deir al‑Zor reactor site.
- The particles were described as natural rather than enriched, indicating chemical processing without showing evidence of enrichment activity.
- Syria’s current Islamist-led government granted additional access in June for new environmental samples and pledged full transparency in talks with Director General Rafael Grossi.
- The report said the agency has not concluded what the findings imply and will evaluate results from other sampled locations before seeking to close outstanding safeguards questions.
- Grossi requested Syria’s help to return to Deir al‑Zor in the coming months to conduct further on-site analysis, access relevant documentation, and interview individuals involved in past nuclear activities.