Iran Says Excess Heavy Water Removal Not Mandatory in Nuclear Agreement

Reuters reports that Iran, in a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), states that the nuclear agreement between Tehran and six world powers does not mandate the removal of excess heavy water from the country. This issue could lead to new challenges with Washington. According to the letter published by the IAEA, it states, 'There is no obligation in the (nuclear agreement) that (Iran) must send excess heavy water, which is ready for sale in international markets but has not yet found a buyer, outside its territory.' Reuters notes that the agreement from July 2015 indicates that Tehran is to offer heavy water beyond the set limit 'for export to international markets and will send it to its foreign buyer based on global prices.' Previously, some hardline media and political figures in Iran had also pointed out this issue. For example, the Tasnim news agency in June 2016, in a series of articles titled 'The Experience of the JCPOA,' stated that the nuclear agreement 'does not mention any obligation for Iran to remove its heavy water from the country, but rather emphasizes that this heavy water is ready for sale.' Mohammad Javad Abtahi, a representative from Khomeini Shahr, told the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency in November that 'Iran is obligated to sell its heavy water under the JCPOA.' Donald Trump, the President of the United States, who has been highly critical of the nuclear agreement, stated that there will be 'very strict oversight' of it. Last week, during a meeting of the IAEA, the U.S. stated in a declaration that 'heavy water beyond the set limit of 130 tons should not remain in Iran.' The IAEA, in its latest report on February 25, announced that the amount of heavy water produced in Iran has fallen below the limit set in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to 124 tons. This monitoring agency had previously reported in November that Iran's heavy water reserves had slightly exceeded the established ceiling. Iran has taken steps to send excess heavy water to Oman. Reuters, citing Western officials, reports that they are concerned that Tehran is 'producing heavy water faster than it needs or is able to sell.' The news agency, citing the IAEA and diplomats, states that if Iran's heavy water production continues at its current pace, the country could reach the established limit by 'May' or 'June.'