Iran Mulling Sale of Heavy Water to Different Countries: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran has been weighing plans to sell the excess heavy water from its peaceful nuclear program to various countries, Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said, noting that negotiations with some of them are being finalized.
“We take into account different countries for the sale of the country’s excess heavy water, considering strategic, economic and commercial issues,” Kamalvandi told IRIB on Saturday.
According to the spokesman, the negotiations with some of the customers are at the final stages.
His comments came after reports that the US will buy heavy water from Iran.
The US Department of Energy, or DOE, has confirmed that it will buy 32 metric tons of heavy water from Iran worth $8.6 million.
Heavy water is used in some nuclear reactors, but is not radioactive.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi also said that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and a US company reached an agreement on heavy water sale on Friday before a joint commission meeting between Iran and world powers.
He added that the agreement was signed following three months of negotiations.
Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), Iran is allowed to use heavy water in its modified Arak nuclear reactor, but should sell any excess supply of both heavy water and enriched uranium on the international market.
