TEHRAN: Iran has begun to export excess quantities of heavy water, which could be used in the process to make atomic arms, as it moves to end a violation of its landmark nuclear deal with world powers. At least some of this has been transferred to Oman for sale, two diplomats familiar with Iran’s nuclear programme said on Monday, along with the semi-official Isna news agency. Heavy water is used to cool reactors that can produce substantial amounts of plutonium. And plutonium in turn can be applied to making the fissile core of nuclear warheads.
The news that Iran has begun exporting its surplus heavy water comes after a report released on November 9 by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said Tehran had more heavy water in storage than the nuclear deal allowed for. While the overhang was slight – 100 kilograms over the allotted 130 metric tons – it is the second time that Iran had exceeded its limit since the accord came into effect in January. US diplomats have criticised the violation, and with the incoming Trump administration warning that it could try to overturn the deal, Iran’s repeated breach of its commitment is adding to concerns about the accord’s durability.
Iran had pledged to ship out five tons of the material to ensure it was complying with the agreement, which gives it sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear programme. In February, a month after the deal went into effect, the International Atomic Energy Agency noted for the first time that Iran had exceeded its allotted limit of heavy water. The amount was greater in that case and some of the excess was exported to the United States under an arrangement criticised by congressional opponents as facilitating Iranian violations of the deal.
