# Syrian reactor could have produced material for nuclear weapons, UN watchdog says

https://mins.news/en/item/48667

- The Guardian, 2026-09-07 16:37 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/07/syrian-reactor-could-nuclear-weapons-if-completed-un

> IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said a nearly completed reactor secretly built under Bashar al-Assad had the technical design to efficiently produce fissile material that could be used in nuclear weapons. Inspectors also verified about 73 tonnes of natural uranium metal at an undeclared site and placed it under safeguards.

## Related coverage

- [Syria’s Assad-era reactor was configured for possible nuclear weapons use: IAEA](https://mins.news/en/item/48802) — Al Jazeera, 2026-09-07
- [Syrian nuclear reactor could have been useful for weapons, IAEA chief says](https://mins.news/en/item/48513) — Reuters, 2026-09-07
