ISRAEL HAYOM
Obama’s heavy-handed heavy-water deal
by Sarah Stern
April 26, 2016

According to Robert Einhorn of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “Before centrifuge technology for enriching uranium became available from the black market network of Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, the plutonium route using heavy-water reactors was the dependable choice for aspiring nuclear-weapon states.” And that is precisely why the nuclear deal signed last July specifically limited the amount of heavy water that Iran was supposed to produce. The issue of heavy-water production at the Arak nuclear facility had been one of the major sticking points in the over two-year negotiating process with Iran. The agreement explicitly limits the amount to 130 metric tons. According to the International Atomic Energy Administration, Iran exceeded that amount in February and would have had to ship it out to satisfy compliance. However, it failed to do so. So rather than acknowledging Iran’s lack of compliance, the Obama administration will be buying Iran’s heavy water to “safeguard Iran’s nuclear agreement.” READ MORE