Iran ready to sell surplus of heavy water

Iran is ready to trade heavy water with any country, but it regards the US as a potential buyer, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, said.

"We have produced over 160 tons of heavy water, out of which about 130 tons will remain stored for later use to operate the Arak reactor," IRNA cited the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran as saying. 

"We have put the remaining 30 tons up for sale as agreed under the July 14 nuclear deal with major powers, which will place temporary constraints on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The US should be considered a potential customer because it is the world's largest buyer of heavy water," TASS cited Salehi as saying.

He stated that Iran is ready to trade heavy water with any country, including the United States, for either cash or natural uranium. Salehi stressed that Washington's demands that the excess supply of heavy water be shipped out of the country prior to the implementation of the accord is beyond Tehran's commitments.

"The sale of heavy water supplies is not a precondition for the enforcement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. According to the plan, it can be done after the deal's implementation," he said.