UN finds several tons of nuclear material in Syria from Assad era

According to IAEA Director Rafael Grossi, it was Syria's current government that reported the new location, a decision he calls "courageous."

"We are talking about a few tons of nuclear material that could have been used for bad purposes," Grossi said at a press conference in Damascus.

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirms that the country voluntarily reported the site on July 17, and that the IAEA has now collected samples there.

The nuclear material will remain in Dayr az-Zawr in Syria and will be handled safely, according to the minister, reports the Saudi television channel al-Hadath.