32 Tons of Heavy Water Sold to US: Iran Nuclear Chief

“European firms, including German and French ones, seek to purchase Iran’s heavy water and we have expressed our readiness in this regard,” Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters on Sunday.

He added that under last year’s nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany, Tehran can keep a heavy water stockpile of 130 tons and offer the surplus for sale on international markets.

Pointing to the increasing demand for heavy water worldwide, Salehi noted that Iran has become a major international supplier of the substance.

The AEOI head said heavy water is not used only in reactors but can also be utilized in various industries, including pharmaceuticals.

He added that only a few countries are authorized to produce heavy water under regulations of the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA).

According to the JCPOA, the US administration of President Barack Obama said in April that Washington would buy $8.6 million worth of heavy water from Iran.

The agreement, which took effect in January, calls for an end to decades of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.

In September, the IAEA once again confirmed Iran’s commitment to the landmark nuclear agreement, with the agency’s Director General Yukiya Amano saying that the UN nuclear agency would continue evaluating the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.

In a quarterly report on Iran on September 8, Iran’s commitment to the nuclear agreement was confirmed by the IAEA which is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the JCPOA.

Since January, the IAEA has released regular reports confirming the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities and Tehran’s commitment to the agreement.