Damascus-Paris, Sept. 17 (SANA)After 15 years during whichSyria’s nuclear non-compliance file remained open, the country has turned a page associated with the legacy of the ousted regime. On September 9, theIAEABoard of Governors unanimously adopted a decision to permanently remove the item concerning Syria’s non-compliance from its agenda.The decision not only closed a longstanding file inherited from the past, but also opened a new path based on transparency, cooperation andconfidence-building, paving the way for Syria to resume its normal role within the international nuclear non-proliferation framework.The decision has also ushered in a new practical phase of cooperation between Syria and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with the roadmap signed by the two sides entering into effect and Syria moving toward the reactivation of scientific and technological cooperation programs in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

France Welcomes Cooperation and Confidence-Building

In a statement to SANA, the French Foreign Ministry welcomed what it described as decisive cooperation between the Syrian authorities and the IAEA, saying that the cooperation had enabled the resolution of issues that had remained outstanding for more than 15 years under Syria’s safeguards agreement.The ministry said the development represented an important outcome for the non-proliferation system and demonstrated that, when there is political will, a state can rebuild confidence and transparency regarding its past nuclear activities.France encouraged Syria to continue its cooperation with the IAEA and to conclude an additional protocol with the agency, which would help establish final and sustainable confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of all nuclear activities and nuclear material in Syria.The French position, issued following the Board of Governors’ decision, reflects a shift in the international handling of the Syrian file—from addressing outstanding non-compliance issues inherited from the past toward confidence-building and ensuring the peaceful nature of Syria’s future nuclear activities.

Addressing the 70th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna via video, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said the Board’s September 9 consensus decision “closes an era that lasted 15 years and lays the foundations for a new phase, culminating in a historic collective decision that closes the chapter of doubt and opens the door to certainty and cooperation.”Al-Shaibani described the closure of the file as a turning point and the beginning of a new era, noting that the roadmap signed with the IAEA had entered into effect and that Syria was looking to harness the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in support of development.He explained that on July 17, Syria took an independent sovereign decision and sent an official letter to the IAEA disclosing the presence of nuclear material at an undeclared site. On July 29, Syria signed a memorandum of understanding and a roadmap with the agency on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

From Deir Ezzor to IAEA Safeguards

These steps paved the way for cooperation to move from the political level to practical fieldwork. Syria granted the IAEA access to the Deir Ezzor site, which IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited on August 16, marking the first visit to the site after nearly two decades of closure.IAEA experts subsequently began working with their Syrian counterparts to remove remnants of the reactor buried beneath layers of reinforced concrete.Syria also provided design information and nuclear material inventory reports that the IAEA Board of Governors had been requesting since 2011. Around 73 metric tons of natural uranium are now under IAEA safeguards while remaining securely stored inside Syrian territory.Grossi described Syria’s cooperation as a “historic breakthrough” in safeguards implementation. In a statement issued on September 7, he said that Syria’s provision of information and access to sites had enabled the agency to clarify and resolve outstanding issues related to Syria’s past nuclear activities.

From Closure to Peaceful Partnership

The removal of the non-compliance item does not mean the end of Syria’s relationship with the IAEA. Rather, it marks a transition to a different phase of cooperation, according to president of Atomic Energy Commission of Syria Mudar al-Oklah.Speaking about Syria’s participation in the IAEA General Conference, held from September 14 to 18, al-Okla said the participation aims to reactivate technological and scientific partnership programs in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.He explained that the commission would work to translate the roadmap into new projects and agreements in nuclear medicine, agriculture, water-resource management, energy and scientific research. The discussions would also address future cooperation programs, budgets and the development of nuclear safety standards.Al-Okla stressed that placing the uranium under IAEA safeguards, while keeping it securely stored inside Syria, represents a turning point toward a phase characterized by transparency, cooperation and practical steps to advance peaceful nuclear projects.

Nuclear Technology in Support of Development

Syria is seeking to direct this cooperation toward sectors directly linked to development and reconstruction needs. Al-Shaibani said priorities include rehabilitating nuclear medicine infrastructure to treat cancer patients, using isotope technologies in agriculture and groundwater management, improving radiation monitoring of food, as well as supporting scientific research and energy production.“Syria wants from the atom what heals, what feeds and what lights,” al-Shaibani said, stressing that the forthcoming program will operate under international supervision, with nuclear material subject to safeguards and cooperation programs established to serve future generations.

International Support for the New Phase

International stances supporting the closure of the file have further strengthened the transition toward the new phase. The United States welcomed the decision and described Syria’s steps as a model for fulfilling nuclear non-proliferation commitments.The European Union also welcomed Syria’s transparency and cooperation with the IAEA, confirming that previously undeclared nuclear material had been placed under international safeguards and noting that Syria’s steps had enabled the agency to clarify questions concerning the country’s previous nuclear program.The United Kingdom and several Arab countries likewise welcomed the decision and the consensus behind it, while stressing the importance of continued international cooperation and support for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Syria.The broad international consensus carries significance beyond closing an item that had remained open since 2011. It establishes a new course in the international handling of Syria’s nuclear file, shifting the focus from addressing inherited non-compliance issues toward cooperation, transparency and international safeguards, while opening the way for a peaceful nuclear partnership beyond the legacy of the former regime.With the non-compliance file now closed, Syria says it has returned to its normal position among the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons. The next phase, it stresses, will be based on responsibility, transparency, dialogue and international cooperation.