Iran's Atomic Agency to Design New Heavy Water Reactor - Parliament Spokesman

Iran committed to reducing the scope of its nuclear activities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015. After President Trump withdrew the US from the deal in 2018, Iran scaled back on its commitments under the JCPOA by increasing its uranium enrichment levels and stockpiles.

MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) will be required to design a new a 40 megawatt heavy water reactor in accordance with the bill enacted on Tuesday, Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission spokesman Abolfazl Amouei said.

"According to Article 4 of the bill, which was approved by the commission on Tuesday, the AEOI will be required to establish a plant for the production of uranium," Amouei said as quoted by Mehr news agency.

According to him, during Tuesday's session, the Iranian lawmakers also discussed a strategic plan for lifting the sanctions against Iran.

The news comes as Iran continues to increase its stockpile of low-enriched uranium far beyond the limits set in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as Iran nuclear deal.