Leonhard Foeger/Reuters
The Obama administration is set to purchase materials used by Iran in its nuclear development, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The U.S. Department of Energy’s acquisition of 32 tons of heavy water comes as part of the White House’s attempt to protect its nuclear agreement with Iran, which requires the country keep its stockpile of heavy water below 130 tons during the first several years. Because the Islamic Republic reportedly struggled to find buyers for its surplus materials, the U.S. will step in to make the purchase—hopefully giving other countries the confidence to do the same, officials indicated. While heavy water is a key component in a functioning nuclear power reactor, it can also be used to generate uranium for weaponry.