The United States is poised to buy heavy water, a component of nuclear reactors, from Iran for $8.6 million, according to reports credited to an unnamed senior White House official.

The purchase of 32 metric tons of heavy water will help the United States’ goal of getting the material out of Iran, CNN reported, citing the official. The Department of Energy will likely sell it to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, among other lab and commercial facilities.

The United States cannot make heavy water domestically, the official told CNN.

A chief component of the Iran nuclear deal stipulates that Iran reduce its stockpile of nuclear weapons. The deal, reached last year, allows for Iran to reach billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its atomic program.

Read more at USA Today

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