Natanz Nuclear Facility

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Natanz Nuclear Facility
Atomanlage Natanz (2022).jpg
The entrance to the Natanz nuclear facility on the old Kashan-Natanz road
Natanz Nuclear Facility
Country Iran
Location Natanz County, Isfahan province
Coordinates 33°43′32.05″N51°43′33.1″E / 33.7255694°N 51.725861°E / 33.7255694; 51.725861
StatusOperational
Owner Government of Iran
Operator Atomic Energy Organization of Iran

Natanz Nuclear Facility or Shahid Ahmadi Roshan Nuclear Facilities is one of the nuclear facilities in Iran, which was built near Natanz for the scientific and peaceful uranium enrichment. This center is operating based on the peaceful principles of Iran's nuclear program. [1] The underground enrichment facility of this center is protected by a concrete shield with a thickness of approximately 7.6 meters. [2]

Contents

According to the announcement of the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the centrifuge devices in this center built under the ground, [3] at a depth of 40 to 50 meters of the earth. This construction design is chosen for "safety of the people" [4] and also for being safe from "possible air attack". [5] [6]

The existence of this nuclear center was first exposed in 2002 by the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran. [7] From 2006 to 2021, this facility has been the target of 5 massive destructive attacks by the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. [8]

Naming

On February 15, 2012, simultaneously with the exploitation of nuclear achievements, with the presence of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the then president of Iran, the names of 5 nuclear centers and departments of Iran were changed to the names of the five assassinated people. Natanz Nuclear Facility name was also changed to "Shahid Ahmadi Roshan Nuclear Facility" in memory of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan who was assassinated on January 11, 2012. [9]

Before that, the name of this nuclear facility was the same as the nearby city, Natanz. Of course, it is still known internationally with the name "Natanz Nuclear Facility". [10]

On January 16, 2011, the New York Times newspaper claimed in an investigative article that Israel and the United States have never officially confirmed that they were involved in the spread of the Stuxnet virus. [11]

On January 11, 2012, Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, the "Deputy Commercial Officer" of Natanz Nuclear Facility, was assassinated and killed by a bomb explosion in Seyed Khandan area of Tehran. [12]

Vandalisms

According to Fereydoon Abbasi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, these facilities have been subjected to vandalism attacks since 2006, and in 5 cases, the attacks were widespread. These acts of vandalism include a wide range, such as placing explosives in the air sensors of the centrifuges to deliberately power outage of the centrifuges. Some of these attacks have been deliberately carried out on special occasions in the Iranian calendar, such as Quds Day and the Mid-Sha'ban ceremony. [8]

Expansion of facilities

According to the Washington Post, satellite images show that construction is underway at the Natanz Nuclear Facility. Also, the International Atomic Energy Agency has announced that Iran is building an advanced centrifuge assembly plant in the underground of Natanz Nuclear Facility. [13] [14]

See also

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References

  1. "Nuclear Facility of Natanz (Kashan)" [تاسیسات هسته‌ای نطنز (کاشان)]. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  2. "Fire damages building at Iran nuclear enrichment site; reactor said untouched" [حادثه آتش سوزی در مجتمع غنی سازی هسته‌ای ایران: راکتور دست نخورده و سالم است]. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  3. "نقشه و تصاویر ماهواره‌ای از تأسیسات اتمی ایران" [Map and satellite images of Iran's nuclear facilities] (in Persian). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  4. "Ahmadinejad: Nuclear facilities are built underground for people's safety" (in Persian). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  5. "تأیید آغاز غنی‌سازی اورانیوم در تأسیسات زیرزمینی ایران" [Approval of the start of uranium enrichment in Iran's underground facilities] (in Persian). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  6. "Natanz Nuclear Facility created at 50 meters underground" [تاسیسات هسته‌ای نطنز در ۵۰ متری زیر زمین ایجاد شد]. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  7. "ادعای مجاهدین خلق درباره انتقال یک مرکز تحقیقات هسته‌ای در ایران" [People's Mojahedin Organization claim about the transfer of a nuclear research center in Iran] (in Persian). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  8. 1 2 "تاکنون چند خرابکاری در نطنز انجام شده است؟ / توضیحات رییس سابق سازمان انرژی اتمی" [How many vandalisms have been carried out in Natanz so far? / Explanations of the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization] (in Persian). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  9. "گشت‌وگذار در سرزمین هسته‌ای" [Excursion in the nuclear land] (in Persian). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  10. "احمدی‌نژاد از "دستاوردهای بزرگ هسته‌ای ایران" خبر داد" [Ahmadinejad announced Iran's "great nuclear achievements"] (in Persian). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  11. "Israeli Test on Worm Called Crucial in Iran Nuclear Delay" [آزمایش اسراییل روی یک بدافزار برای به تأخیر انداختن برنامه هسته‌ای ایران]. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  12. "پیام رهبر ایران به مناسبت ترور مصطفی احمدی روشن" [The message of the leader of Iran on the occasion of the assassination of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan] (in Persian). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  13. "Satellite photos show construction at Iran nuclear site" [عکس‌های ماهواره‌ای ساخت و ساز در سایت هسته‌ای ایران را نشان می‌دهد]. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  14. "Satellite photos show construction at Iran nuclear site" [عکس‌های ماهواره‌ای ساخت و ساز در سایت هسته‌ای ایران را نشان می‌دهد]. Retrieved 4 November 2024.