US to Purchase Tons of Heavy Water From Iran to Meet Nuclear Agreement

The United States is set to buy 32 tons of heavy water from Iran, as confirmed by the spokesperson of the Energy Department on Friday.

The purchase of heavy water is in alignment with the nuclear deal agreed upon by seven world powers including Iran and US. The deal talks about the lifting of the financial sanction on Iran in exchange for the country's reduction of its ability to produce nuclear weapons. The agreement also demands Iran to reduce its accumulation of different kinds of materials used in making nuclear weapons.

Heavy water, a material used as a coolant in producing plutonium and used in medical research is expected to be resold within the US after the purchase.

"This heavy water purchase will help meet market demand in the United States, fulfilling a substantial portion of the United States' domestic industry and research needs for the year, while also contributing to the administration's nuclear nonproliferation efforts," said the spokesperson of the Energy Department, according to MSN.

Satisfied with Iran's performance of its part on the nuclear deal, US government now encourages European banks to do business with the country.

John Kerry, US Secretary of State, confirmed that the purchase of heavy water comes after Iran's fulfilment of its obligation on the deal, thereby assuring that the US government's decision to purchase said material is an assurance that Asian and European Banks should cease the fear of dealing with Iran, as per Yahoo.

Times of Israel reported that the heavy water purchase however did not win the approval of the Republicans in Congress who have been opposing the deal from the start.

Paul Ryan, House Speaker, on the other hand, supposed that what the US government claims to be their part in the nuclear deal is beyond what is required by the agreement. He infers that this step is only to subsidize the country's nuclear program. "It's yet another unprecedented concession to the world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism," Ryan noted.

This video shows some additional facts about the heavy water purchase.