Nuclear inspectors have completed their analysis of soil and air samples collected in Syria earlier this year and have concluded that they should continue to examine allegations that the nation had a covert nuclear program (see GSN, Oct. 3).
(Oct. 29) -
Earlier this year, the CIA released this photo purportedly showing the incomplete core of Syrian nuclear reactor (CIA photo).
In June, Syria permitted the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit a site bombed by Israel last year (see GSN, June 25). U.S. intelligence officials presented evidence in April indicating that the destroyed facility was a nearly operational reactor designed to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. The plant was constructed with North Korean assistance, the U.S. officials said (see GSN, April 25).
Syria has denied any undeclared nuclear activity, but it raised suspicions by razing the bombed site quickly and erecting a new structure over the old. Damascus has also denied IAEA requests to visit additional sites that could be related to the razed facility.
Preliminary IAEA analysis of samples taken in June showed no presence of uranium fuel or graphite, tons of which would have been needed to operate a reactor.
The final analysis, however, left the door open for more study, according to diplomats in Vienna.
“There is enough evidence there to warrant a follow-up,” said one diplomat.
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei is planning to release an official report shortly before the next scheduled meeting of the agency’s governing board on Nov. 27, according to another diplomat (George Jahn, Associated Press/Google News, Oct. 29).
At the board’s September meeting, ElBaradei resisted Western nations’ pressure for a quick report, telling them, “you will get an assessment as fast as we can and when we are ready” (see GSN, Sept. 25).
ElBaradei has criticized parties on all sides for their behavior surrounding the issue, complaining that Israel destroyed the alleged nuclear facility instead of allowing the agency to examine it and decrying Syria’s subsequent razing of the bombed site (Greg Webb, Global Security Newswire, Oct. 29).