Syria Confirms IAEA Delegation to Visit Damascus for Talks on Nuclear Material Handling and Peaceful Use Cooperation

The Syrian Atomic Energy Commission issued a written statement confirming that a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will arrive in Damascus in the coming days to discuss progress in Syria's nuclear energy sector and international nuclear cooperation. The visit was announced following reports that the IAEA is preparing to remove nuclear materials from secret facilities in Syria. The statement said Syria is cooperating with the United States and friendly countries on addressing the nuclear legacy left by the former regime, and is committed to promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy in fields such as health, food, and scientific research.

The statement noted that Syria is working to activate its full membership status in the IAEA, and emphasized that Syria has achieved significant progress in the nuclear energy sector through its own capabilities after liberation. However, due to limited technical capacity and the lack of sufficient international support to date, Syria has called for the establishment of an international committee of experts to provide the necessary technical and legal support. The Syrian Atomic Energy Commission confirmed that it will host the IAEA delegation in the coming days, and the two sides will discuss Syria's progress in the nuclear energy sector and issue a joint statement on the talks afterward.

Earlier, U.S. political news reports stated that following an agreement between the United States, Syria, and Israel, the IAEA is preparing to remove nuclear materials from a secret facility in Syria known as "Site 99." According to reports, the facility houses yellowcake (uranium concentrate) remnants from the Assad regime era, which have been stored there since the Al-Kibar reactor was destroyed by Israel in 2007. Syria's new government has agreed to allow IAEA access to the facility for sealing and removal operations, and the U.S. side hopes the removal work can be completed by the end of 2026.