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]
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 bieng 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]
Stuxnet virus and assassination of people related to Natanz Nuclear Facility
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]
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]
All acts are peaceful
So far, no valid document and evidence has been presented to show that Iran is bellicose in expanding the Natanz Nuclear Facility and also in expanding other nuclear energy facilities across the country. From the very beginning of the negotiations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has not sought to build nuclear weapons in its strategy, but the Iranian government is looking for the possibilities of nuclear energy as an energy source to become independent from the sale of its oil.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
Keeping up with the global progress and independence in the production of modern and vital industries is one of the movement strategies of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.[22] In the meantime, atomic energy is a justified and basic need for Iran in the future and a solution for the emergence of a crisis of oil shortage in the world.[23] In the historical record of countries, Iran has never started a war with any other country or nation so far.[24] Some western and biased media have even translated the term "nuclear energy" into the term "nuclear weapon" in the Persian speeches of Iranian officials at the world forums.[25][26][27] Despite the very negative publicity about Iran in the public opinion of the world, after the international inspections, many important international officials have admitted that Iran's nuclear activities are completely peaceful.[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47]
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