The Assad-era government in Syria was constructing a nuclear reactor that was configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

IAEA uncovered around 73 metric tons of natural uranium metal, mainly in the form of reactor fuel. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

VIENNA, Sept 7 - The nuclear reactor Syria had nearly completed in 2007 when Israeli jets destroyed it was of a type that could quickly produce fissile material usable in nuclear weapons, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The IAEA said an undeclared reactor built in Syria under Bashar Assad was configured to produce fissile material for possible nuclear weapons. The finding sharpens proliferation concerns even as hidden uranium stocks are now under international safeguards.

The UN's nuclear watchdog also found a fuel fabrication plant, where the nuclear fuel for the reactor was manufactured, and a location where nuclear fuel as well as uranium scrap and waste were stored.