Iran briefly exceeded the limit of heavy water is allowed to possess under the terms of the nuclear deal between it and the P5+1 powers the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Friday. In its regular report the IAE said that, "On 17 February, the agency verified that Iran's stock of heavy water has reached 130.90 metric tonnes." The IAEA monitors Iran's compliance with the deal. "Iran briefly exceeded its 130 metric ton heavy water stockpile limit under the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] by less than one ton. The IAEA has now verified that Iran has shipped out 20 metric tons and is back well under this limit," said a U.S. official quoted by Reuters. "Iran made no effort to hide anything it was doing from the IAEA. Because of the enhanced monitoring and verification provisions in the JCPOA, the IAEA immediately became aware of this issue and raised it with Iran, and Iran fixed it," he added. He also added that it isn't "surprising that there are challenges for Iran in ensuring it is meeting all of the many nuclear commitments in the early stages of the JCPOA." Under the terms of the JCPOA, "All excess heavy water which is beyond Iran's needs will be made available for export to the international market. Iran's needs are estimated to be 130 metric tons."
