Qatar Praises IAEA Decision to Conclude Syria's 15-Year Nuclear Non-Compliance Case

Qatar has expressed strong support for the International Atomic Energy Agency's decision to formally close Syria's nuclear non-compliance case, bringing an end to an issue that persisted on the agency's agenda for over 15 years.

In an official statement released by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Gulf nation thanked the supporting international community and emphasized that the resolution will help Syria restore its normal standing within the UN nuclear watchdog. Doha highlighted that the decision paves the way for Syria to leverage the peaceful applications of nuclear energy to aid ongoing development and reconstruction initiatives.

The controversy originated from the Deir ez-Zor site in eastern Syria, which was destroyed by Israel in 2007. In 2011, the IAEA Board of Governors concluded it was highly probable that the site housed an undeclared nuclear reactor, prompting a formal non-compliance finding reported to the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

The standing issue was successfully resolved following increased cooperation in 2025 and 2026. Syrian authorities provided vital information, granted necessary access, notified the agency of a previously undeclared site, and agreed to excavation arrangements at Deir ez-Zor. With previously undeclared nuclear material now placed under agency safeguards and routine monitoring, the IAEA confirmed that all outstanding safeguards questions have been fully clarified and resolved.