Rafael Grossi Warns Of Unknown Fate Of Nuclear Materials In Syria After Bashar Al-Assad’s Fall

Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned of “the unknown fate of some nuclear materials” in Syria after the fall of the regime of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

“UN's International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi warned of the danger of a new nuclear arms race facing the world, warning of 'the unknown fate of some nuclear materials' in Syria”

Al-Jazeera Net

Grossi said escalating conflicts and instability could lead to “a crack in the nuclear nonproliferation regime,” an outcome that could drive about 20 countries to seek to obtain nuclear weapons.

Al-Jazeera Net

In the interview with The Telegraph, Grossi cautioned that the world may be in “a very fragile position” regarding renewed discussions in countries such as Poland, South Korea, and Japan about possessing nuclear weapons.

He also stressed that any agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran would be “a sham” if the IAEA did not participate, linking the agency’s role directly to the credibility of diplomacy.

Grossi said he is working to remove Syria from “the list of potential sources of concern,” and he pointed to his cooperation with President Ahmad al-Sharaa after the fall of the Assad regime.

He explained that UN inspectors found nuclear materials suspected to be linked to an undeclared program of the previous regime, while he said the main concerns had subsided but “there are still indicators and information that require verification.”

Grossi’s Syria-focused warning was framed as part of a broader concern about the stability of the nuclear nonproliferation system, with the IAEA chief warning that escalating conflicts and instability could fracture the regime.

He said the danger of a new nuclear arms race facing the world could be driven by “the unknown fate of some nuclear materials” in Syria and by wider geopolitical instability.

Akhir Khabar

In both accounts, Grossi linked the risk to renewed debates in multiple countries about nuclear weapons, naming Poland, South Korea, and Japan as examples of places where discussions are resurfacing.

He also said he is concerned about states party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty engaging in public discussions about potentially breaking the treaty, describing talks on developing nuclear weapons as fueled by “a climate of disintegration, conflict, and polarization.”

The sources also provide the treaty’s baseline: “Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed in 1970, 191 countries pledged not to seek nuclear weapons.”

They further specify the treaty’s nuclear-weapon recognition and exclusions, stating that it recognizes five nuclear-weapon states—“the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China”—and that it does not cover nuclear-armed states that possess weapons outside its framework, namely India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea.

Grossi’s comments also connected Syria’s nuclear-material uncertainties to the wider diplomatic landscape around Iran, emphasizing how monitoring and verification can determine whether agreements hold.

“Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned of the danger of a new nuclear arms race facing the world, cautioned about 'the unknown fate of some nuclear materials' in Syria”

Akhir Khabar

He said the threat of Iran possessing a nuclear weapon has driven countries to consider developing deterrence capabilities, tying proliferation concerns to strategic decision-making.

In the same discussion, Grossi said the chances of reaching “a deal to end the war and limit the Iranian nuclear program looked promising last Friday, but stalled again by Monday,” giving a specific window for optimism and then reversal.

The sources also describe how Grossi judged the role of the IAEA in any U.S.-Iran arrangement, warning that any agreement between Donald Trump and Iran would be “a sham” or “an illusion” if the IAEA did not participate.

By placing this condition alongside the Syria warning about “the unknown fate of some nuclear materials,” Grossi effectively linked the credibility of nuclear diplomacy to the agency’s ability to verify and monitor.

The accounts further state that the issue of some nuclear materials is part of the ongoing dialogue with Syria, and that Grossi is working to remove Syria from “the list of potential sources of concern.”

Beyond Syria and Iran, Grossi’s warnings extended to other nuclear trajectories, with the IAEA chief expressing concern about multiple countries’ nuclear programs.

He said he is concerned about the “steady growth” of the Chinese nuclear program and the “rapid pace” of North Korea’s secret nuclear program.

Akhir Khabar

In the same framing, Grossi described his warnings as “the strongest Grossi has issued to date about the possibility of a new nuclear arms race,” and he connected that strength to “growing concern inside the agency and among senior diplomats.”

The sources also portray Grossi’s worry about treaty politics, stating that he is concerned about signatory states of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty engaging in public discussions about a possible breach of the treaty.

Both accounts tie the proliferation risk to a broader atmosphere, describing discussions about developing nuclear weapons as fueled by “a climate of disintegration, conflict, and polarization” or by “a current atmosphere of disintegration, conflict, and polarization.”

The articles also provide a quantitative snapshot of the nuclear landscape, stating that “The world has about 12,000 nuclear warheads,” and that Russia (5,459) and the United States (5,277) own about 90% of them.

The sources depict Grossi as actively engaging with the post-Assad Syrian authorities while still emphasizing verification gaps around nuclear materials.

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The Telegraph

He said he is working to remove Syria from “the list of potential sources of concern,” and he pointed to his cooperation with President Ahmad al-Sharaa after the fall of the Assad regime.

Al-Jazeera Net

Grossi also said UN inspectors found nuclear materials suspected to be linked to an undeclared program of the previous regime, which he described as part of the ongoing dialogue with Syria.

He explained that the main concerns had subsided, but he added that “there are still indicators and information that require verification,” keeping the Syria file open rather than closed.

In both accounts, Grossi’s warning about “the unknown fate of some nuclear materials” is presented as a direct consequence of the regime change and the resulting uncertainty.

The articles also emphasize that escalating conflicts and instability could lead to a fracture in the nuclear nonproliferation regime, which could push about 20 countries to seek to acquire nuclear weapons.