Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shibani and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi announced a new phase of cooperation between Damascus and the agency during a joint press conference Tuesday evening at Tishreen Palace, outlining progress on peaceful nuclear energy and long-standing inspection files.
Shibani said cooperation with the IAEA has continued since “the country’s liberation,” adding that upcoming steps will include expanded technical support from the agency. He stressed that Syria has the full sovereign right to develop a peaceful nuclear program and benefit from its civilian applications, noting that Damascus has adopted “complete transparency” in its dealings with the IAEA.
Addressing the legacy of the former regime’s nuclear activities, Shibani said Syria had voluntarily granted access to the Deir ez-Zor site after more than eighteen years, describing the move as a sovereign initiative aimed at resolving historical concerns. He expressed confidence that Grossi’s forthcoming report would reflect the progress achieved in bilateral cooperation.
The foreign minister also commented on recent Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Military Airport in Idlib governorate, as well as ongoing incursions in Daraa and Quneitra. He said repeated Israeli attacks threaten the stability of Syria and the wider region, calling on Israel to halt its operations while reaffirming Damascus’s commitment to diplomatic channels. Shibani added that Syria is working with the IAEA to demonstrate its commitment to regional and international stability, even as Israeli forces “persist in a policy of aggression and chaos.”
Grossi described his visit and meetings in Damascus as a “significant milestone” for security, peace and non-proliferation. He said the agency began working with Syria’s new government eighteen months ago, contrasting its openness with the non-cooperation of the previous authorities. Grossi confirmed that inspectors had been granted access to the previously undisclosed Deir ez-Zor site, enabling the agency to address longstanding questions raised by the international community.
He announced that Syria has “restored its position” as a state in full compliance with its non-proliferation obligations, and said future nuclear applications in the country will focus on energy, healthcare and water management—areas he described as foundations for new international partnerships.
Prior to the press conference, Shibani and Grossi held technical discussions covering recent inspection visits to Deir ez-Zor and another site containing nuclear material discovered by the Syrian government. According to a statement from the Syrian Foreign Ministry on X, both sides reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination to safeguard Syria’s sovereign right to peaceful nuclear energy and to close outstanding files before the IAEA Board of Governors “as expeditiously as possible.”
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
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