US not only potential client for Iran’s heavy water: AEOI

A senior Iranian official says the Islamic Republic is in talks with countries other than US for the sales of its heavy water, adding that good progress has been made in this regard.

“Negotiations are underway to sell [Iran’s] heavy water to other countries,” spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi told reporters on Friday.

He added that Iran has asked the US to provide some assurances pertaining to the purchase of heavy water, saying such guarantees are being offered and the sale is being implemented.

“This issue is important because a country which sought to close Iran’s heavy water facilities, now accepts the responsibility to buy it. This issue is important in political, technical, legal and international terms and should not be overlooked,” the AEOI spokesperson said.

Last month, President Barack Obama's administration completed an $8.6 million deal to buy 32 tons of heavy water from Iran. On May 25, 251 American lawmakers at the US House of Representatives voted for a bill that would prohibit such purchases next year. The measure is yet to be approved by the US Senate.

Kamalvandi further said some countries are reportedly doubtful about purchasing heavy water from Iran “but when the US fulfills its commitments to buy heavy water, other countries’ doubts will be removed.”

The AEOI head, Ali Akbar Salehi, said on May 31 that European countries have expressed their readiness to buy 20 tons of heavy water from Iran, adding, “We can produce 20 tons of heavy water per year.”

SS