US to Buy Nuclear Substance From Iran, Reports Say
By Staff Writer | Apr 23, 2016 07:16 AM EDT
It was reported that United States will buy heavy water from Iran amounting to $8.6 million which is an element of nuclear reactors. The heavy water is scheduled to be delivered within weeks, earning criticism from Republican lawmakers.
According to the CNN report, the goal of such purchase is to remove the heavy water out of Iran the same method the Iran nuclear deal pressured Iran to consign its supply of enriched uranium to Russia. The Iran nuclear deal emphasizes on downsizing the large supply of its nuclear materials such as uranium and heavy water.
"The importance of heavy water to a nuclear proliferator is that it provides one more route to produce plutonium for use in (nuclear) weapons," the Federation of American Scientists said.
Since United States cannot produce heavy water domestically, it will purchase 32 metric tons from Iran thus reducing its large reserve of nuclear components, reports USA TODAY
Heavy water is used for research and medical purposes and can be also be used to make top weapons-grade plutonium. As stated by Wisconsin Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, buying heavy water from Iran would subsidize Iran's nuclear program.
Reuters reported that Iran is currently allowed to possess up to 130 tonnes of heavy water and up to 90 tonnes once it redesigned and reconstruct Arak nuclear research reactor is commissioned.
Under last year's nuclear deal between Iran, the US and five other world powers, Tehran is accountable for lessening its heavy water reservoir which it can sell, dissolve or dispose of, under stipulation.
Abbas Araqchi is Iran's top nuclear negotiator who discussed the sale with U.S. officials. The Department of Energy will possibly sell the heavy water to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.