TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari announced on Monday that Tehran will dispatch its cargo of heavy water to the US only when Washington makes the payment.

"The United States showed an illogical and illegal attitude towards the seizure of Iran Central Bank's assets under the recent US court ruling and it ruined the Islamic Republic's trust in the US actions," Jaberi Ansari told reporters in Tehran today.

Noting that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is responsible for the heavy water contract with the US, he said, "All necessary executive measures have been planned by the Organization to ensure receiving its money and the AEOI will pursue the case in a way that the agreement and contract is implemented properly."

His remarks came after AEOI Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi underlined last night that Iran will export heavy water to the US only after receiving its money.

The US Department of Energy said last month that it would buy 32 metric tons of heavy water from Iran for $8.6 million.

"The United States will not be Iran's customer forever," a department spokeswoman said, adding that the department plans to sell the heavy water to commercial and research entities, including a national lab, inside the US.

Meanwhile, State Department Spokesman John Kirby said Iran's compliance with the landmark nuclear agreement meant that the heavy water had already been removed from Iran.

"Our purchase of the heavy water means that it will… be used for critically important research and non-nuclear industrial requirements," Kirby added.

The nuclear deal allows Iran to sell its enriched uranium material - called UF6 - and to buy natural uranium or “yellow cake” in return.

Later in April, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi confirmed Kirby's remarks.

He confirmed that the AEOI and a US company reached an agreement on heavy water sale before a joint commission meeting between Iran and the world powers in Vienna at the time.

He added that the agreement was signed following three months of negotiations.

By Fars News Agency