TEHRAN (FNA)- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi announced that Tehran is preparing to send a cargo of heavy water to the US within the next few weeks.

"Some talks have been underway, but the money hasn�t yet been deposited and when the money is deposited (by the US), we will send the heavy water too," Salehi told FNA on Sunday.

"The heavy water supply is still in storage (in Oman) and God willing, when we receive the money, we will supply it," he added.

"The job will be done within the next few weeks," Salehi underlined.

Noting that negotiations with Russia over selling 40 tons of heavy water are still underway, he said, "European firms have also contacted us (to purchase heavy water from Iran) and we are on the verge of negotiations."

His remarks came after AEOI Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi announced that the Organization is holding talks with other countries to sell them its excess heavy water.

"We are in talks with several states to sell them the surplus of Iran's heavy water," Kamalvandi told reporters on Friday.

He, meantime, pointed to the US purchase of Iran's excessive heavy water, and said, "We have asked US to make some commitments about the purchase of the heavy water; fortunately, they are being fulfilled and we are now at the stage of materializing (transferring) it."

In late May, Salehi had announced that several European states have shown interest in purchasing heavy water supplies from Iran, adding that the modern heavy water reactor in Arak will be launched in five years.

"We are due to sell 32 tons of heavy water to the US and we made the conditions a little harder after the (US) seizure of $2bln of Iran's assets and they (the Americans) should first pay the money. In addition to that, we are in talks with the Russians to sell 40 tons of heavy water to them," Salehi said, addressing a ceremony to start construction of buildings to produce stable isotopes in the Central province of Qom.

Salehi underlined that Iran is able to produce 20 tons of heavy water annually, and said, "The European countries have also declared their need to buy 20 tons of heavy water from Iran."

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi disclosed in May that the US government is paying the price of the heavy water supply it has purchased from Iran.

"As far as I know, the US is remitting the money to the account of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)," Araqchi told reporters in May.

He noted that the US had asked for purchase of 32 tons of heavy water from Iran, and said, "We are also negotiating with Russia to sell nearly the same volume of heavy water."

Araqchi reiterated that as soon as the US completes its payment, Iran will deliver the heavy water supply to that country.

"Our heavy water company is still continuing its production of heavy water; this is a special commodity and has many buyers throughout the world," he added.

He said that Iran has already sold 32 tons of heavy water and it is also negotiating to sell another 40 tons, adding, "We will negotiate with other countries to sell heavy water to them if needed."

By Fars News Agency