Israel accuses Syria of building a nuclear facility in Deir Ezzor
Israel accused Syria of building a secret nuclear facility in Deir Ezzor with the aim of producing plutonium, with direct support from Iran, calling on the international community to increase pressure on the Iranian nuclear program.
This came during a speech by the head of the Israeli International Atomic Energy Agency, Moshe Edri, at the IAEA conference held in Vienna.
Edri pointed out that Syria had built an undeclared nuclear facility in Deir Ezzor dedicated to producing plutonium, with Iranian support, stressing that the Syrian government hadn’t adhered to its commitments regarding nuclear safeguards for more than ten years.
Edri called on the international community to intensify efforts to confront the Iranian nuclear program, warning that Iran remains the main source of instability in the region and a threat to global peace and security.
He stressed that Iran is seeking to develop a military nuclear program aimed at producing several nuclear weapons, noting that Tehran continues to enhance this program by obtaining the necessary technology and knowledge, in addition to fissile materials in alarming quantities.
“Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons and advanced delivery systems isn’t an option that Israel or the world can tolerate or accept,” Edri stressed.
Plutonium is a radioactive chemical element used in the production of nuclear weapons and the generation of nuclear energy, as it has the ability to cause powerful fission reactions, making it essential in the manufacture of bombs and nuclear reactors.
In the same context, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, visited Syria last March and met with Syrian President Bashar al Assad, where they discussed ways to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, as such technology can help Syria produce electricity, as the country struggle after more than 12 years devastating war.
