The Trump administration is ending a policy begun by President Barack Obama of spending millions of taxpayer dollars to purchase Iranian heavy water generated by Tehran’s nuclear reactors.
The Obama administration began the purchases as a way to keep Iran compliant with the so-called ‘nuclear deal’ signed by both nations.
Though the purchase decision was controversial in Congress and within the U.S. national security structure, the Obama administration nevertheless spent roughly $8.6 million to purchase the heavy water, which can be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium.
The Trump administration is stopping the purchases — which were made by the U.S. via a third party offshore entity — to cut off Iran’s access to American currency.
The Obama White House stonewalled Congress when lawmakers attempted to get more details surrounding the purchases and the deal.
“This is another place where the Trump administration is saying ‘no’ to Iranian extortion and blackmail,” one foreign policy expert told U.S. media.
“Iran was deliberately overproducing heavy water and then telling the U.S. ‘buy it from us or it’ll blow up the deal’,” the source said. “The Obama administration paid, effectively rewarding Iran for violating the nuclear deal. The Trump administration refused to let the Iranians hold the deal hostage.” [source]
Information in this article helps satisfy Priority Intelligence Requirement 2: What is the current situation report and risk of war in each of the four flashpoints?
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