The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a global organization responsible for monitoring nuclear activities to prevent misuse, has confirmed the discovery of natural uranium metal at a previously undeclared site in Syria. According to a confidential report shared with member states, the site is located in eastern Deir el-Zour province and was linked to a nuclear reactor constructed by North Korea during the presidency of former Syrian leader Bashar Assad. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi described the reactor's design as highly efficient for producing fissile material—substances that can be used to make nuclear weapons. However, the Assad government had never officially declared the reactor's existence, and its original purpose remains unclear. After Assad's government fell in 2020, the new Syrian administration allowed IAEA inspectors to examine suspected nuclear sites. During an inspection in August, the team confirmed that the site's cooling system was consistent with a nuclear reactor. Grossi and a group of senior inspectors also visited another undeclared location, where they had to dismantle walls and move through narrow, difficult passages to access the hidden material. At that site, they found "boxes scattered all over the place," according to Grossi. Syria informed the IAEA of the site's existence in a letter dated July 17, and invited the agency to assist in inspecting the location and verifying any nuclear materials found. The IAEA confirmed the presence of approximately 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal in the form of fuel rods with protective cladding. The material is now under IAEA safeguards, with cameras installed to monitor it continuously. When asked whether the uranium would remain in Syria or be removed, Grossi emphasized that the decision would be made by the Syrian government. The IAEA's role is to ensure that any nuclear material is tracked and secured, rather than dictating specific actions. Logan Mintz, a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, explained that while natural uranium metal cannot be used directly in nuclear weapons, it could be processed into plutonium, which could be used for such purposes. If the material is deemed safe to transport, it could be moved in certified containers to a third country for disposal or repurposing for nuclear power plants. Such transport would require strong security measures to prevent theft or sabotage.