New Facts: IAEA Confirms 73 Tons of Uranium in Syria

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed about 73 tons of undeclared natural uranium metal tied to Syria’s Al‑Kibar site in Deir Ezzor. About 55 tons are in 8,808 fuel rods, with roughly 18 tons in uranium scrap and manufacturing waste. Inspectors who visited in August also confirmed newly uncovered cooling works at the site match those of a nuclear reactor.

The findings trace a wider effort beyond the reactor. The fuel was made at a separate plant and stored with scrap and waste at an undeclared location outside Damascus. The stockpile has been placed under IAEA safeguards, meaning it is now under the agency’s accounting and oversight, and the agency says it will keep monitoring as excavation work proceeds.

The reactor had earlier been assessed at about 25 megawatts of heat output, a size that uses roughly 50 tons of natural uranium for a full core. The 73‑ton cache equals more than a core’s worth with surplus, and it is now identified, located, and under international oversight.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources