IAEA board resolves long-running Syria nuclear case

The U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution on Wednesday drawing a line under Syria's secret nuclear ​activities during the Assad family's rule, saying the new authorities ‌had helped resolve all outstanding questions.

After Israel bombed a site in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor in 2007 that it said was a secret nuclear reactor ​near completion, the International Atomic Energy Agency demanded Syria come ​clean on its nuclear activities, which it did not do.

The ⁠IAEA board declared Syria in breach of its non-proliferation obligations in ​2011 and reported it to the U.N. Security Council. After the overthrow ​of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Syria's new authorities pledged to work with the IAEA in helping clear up the past activities.

In a confidential report to member ​states last week, seen by Reuters, the IAEA said it had ​resolved all its questions about the outstanding issues originally reported to the board, and ‌the ⁠resolution passed on Wednesday said Syria was no longer in non-compliance with its obligations.

"(The board) welcomes the transparency and cooperation of the Syrian Arab Republic, commends it for the actions taken in resolving its non-compliance," ​the resolution text ​submitted by ⁠Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia said.

The resolution was passed by consensus, meaning no state objected, diplomats at ​the closed-door meeting said.

The IAEA report confirmed it was "very ​likely" the ⁠bombed site was a nuclear reactor, and said fuel for it was made in Syria. The IAEA found around 73 metric tons of natural ⁠uranium ​metal in Syria, most of it in ​the form of fuel rods.

That material is now under IAEA oversight, and Syria has said ​it will stay in the country.

-Reuters