Iran Committed to Obligations on Heavy-Water Stockpile: AEOI Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said the country has met all its obligations on heavy-water supplies according to the nuclear deal with world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has implemented its obligations on heavy water stockpile based on the JCPOA, and remains committed to it,” Kamalvandi told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Friday.
The spokesman made the comments in response to a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which claimed Iran's stockpile of heavy water had slightly exceeded the 130-ton level set out in the JCPOA.
"According to the JCPOA, we should offer any excess over 130 tons of heavy water to the international markets and we have so far sold 70 tons," Kamalvandi said, adding that talks are underway with some countries, the Europeans in particular, to sell the rest of the stockpile.
He further emphasized that the Tehran would remain committed to its undertakings under the JCPOA on heavy water restrictions “so long as the JCPOA is in place.”
IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano on Thursday criticized Iran for exceeding the limit on its stockpile and said, “It is important that such situations should be avoided in future in order to maintain international confidence in the implementation."
Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) signed the JCPOA in July 2015 and started implementing it in January 2016.
Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against the country.
The deal requires Iran’s storage of uranium enriched to up to 3.67 percent purity to stay below 300 kilograms. Tehran has also agreed to keep its heavy water stockpile below 130 metric tons.
