U.S. Pursues Mystery Buyer of Contested Iranian Nuclear Materials

WFB: Nuclear experts worried Russia engaged in scheme to buy Iran’s heavy water.

The Trump administration is considering sanctions on an unidentified international purchaser of Iranian nuclear materials to prevent Tehran from exporting materials that could power an atomic weapon, administration officials tell the Washington Free Beacon.

Iran has moved in recent months to increase its stockpile of heavy water, which is used during nuclear operations to create high quality plutonium and can be used to achieve a plutonium-based pathway to a nuclear weapon. While the Trump administration has tightened restrictions on Iranian exports of heavy water, international nuclear inspectors recently determined that Tehran sold the material to an undisclosed international buyer at least four times since May.

The revelation has amplified concerns among nuclear experts and administration officials that additional sanctions may be necessary to ensure Iran does not become an international seller of heavy water, which could net the financially ailing regime millions in cash. read more