Russian Envoy: Basic Agreements Made to Purchase Heavy Water from Iran

Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan announced that his country has reached preliminary agreements with Iran on the purchase of 40 tons of heavy water, AVA Diplomatic reports.

“Basic agreements have been made in this regard and the details, including the financial and technical details which are complicated, should be discussed,” Levan Dzhagaryan said  in Tehran on Sunday on the sidelines of Russia’s National Day.

“Negotiations still continue,” he added.

In relevant remarks in May, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said that “we are in talks with the Russians to sell 40 tons of heavy water to them”.

Iran has turned into an exporter of heavy water to foreign states.

Salehi said on Sunday that Tehran was preparing to send a cargo of heavy water to the US within the next few weeks.

“Some talks have been underway, but the money hasn’t yet been deposited and when the money is deposited (by the US), we will send the heavy water too,” Salehi said.

“The heavy water supply is still in storage (in Oman) and God willing, when we receive the money, we will supply it,” he added.

“The job will be done within the next few weeks,” Salehi underlined.

Noting that negotiations with Russia over selling 40 tons of heavy water are still underway, he said, “European firms have also contacted us (to purchase heavy water from Iran) and we are on the verge of negotiations.”

His remarks came after AEOI Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi announced that the Organization is holding talks with other countries to sell them its excess heavy water.

“We are in talks with several states to sell them the surplus of Iran’s heavy water,” Kamalvandi told reporters on Friday.