Natanz#Nuclear facility

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 12,060 in 3,411 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006): Isfahan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=amar.org.ir|url=http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/10.xls|access-date=25 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920083455/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/10.xls|format=Excel|archive-date=20 September 2011}} The following census in 2011 counted 12,281 people in 3,829 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011): Isfahan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=irandataportal.syr.edu|via=Iran Data Portal, Syracuse University|url=https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Esfahan.xls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117221845/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Esfahan.xls|archive-date=17 January 2023|access-date=19 December 2022|format=Excel}} The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 14,122 people in 4,564 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016): Isfahan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=amar.org.ir|url=https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_10.xlsx|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019041954/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_10.xlsx|format=Excel|archive-date=19 October 2020}}

{{further|Nuclear facilities in Iran#Natanz}}

In 2002, the NCRI exposed the existence of an undisclosed uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, leading to concerns about Iran's nuclear program.{{cite book |pages=115-120|title=Nuclear Safeguards, Security, and Nonproliferation: Achieving Security with Technology and Policy |year=2019 |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann}}{{cite book |page=148 |title=The Trajectory of Iran's Nuclear Program|year=2015 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan}}{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0zW5BgAAQBAJ&q=national+council+resistance+iran&pg=PA47 |title=Smart Security Council? Analyzing the effectiveness of targeted sanctions|isbn=978-3-95489-521-2|last1=Friedrichs|first1=Gordon|date=February 2014|publisher=Anchor Academic }}

Natanz nuclear facility is part of Iran’s nuclear program. It is located some 33 km NNW from the town ({{coord|33|43|N|51|43|E}}) near a major highway, is generally recognized as Iran's central facility for uranium enrichment with over 19,000 gas centrifuges currently operational and nearly half of them being fed with uranium hexafluoride.{{cite web|url=http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Documents/Board/2008/gov2008-38.pdf |title=Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council Resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008) in the Islamic Republic of Iran|date=15 September 2008 |access-date=2012-06-19}}

Enrichment of Uranium at the plant was halted in July 2004 during negotiations with European countries. In 2006, Iran announced that it would resume Uranium enrichment. In September 2007, the Iranian government announced it had installed 3 centrifuges at Natanz. In 2010, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was told by the Iranian government that future enrichment programmes would take place at Natanz, and they would start in March 2011.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11927720|title=Iran's key nuclear sites|work=BBC News|date=15 October 2013|access-date=25 November 2013}}

In January 2013, Fereydoun Abbasi from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said: "five percent uranium enrichment is continuing at Natanz, and we will continue 20 percent enrichment at Fordo and Natanz to meet our needs".{{cite news|url=http://tehrantimes.com/politics/104773-iran-will-continue-20-percent-enrichment-at-fordo-natanz|title=Iran will continue 20% enrichment at Fordo, Natanz: official|work=Tehran Times|date=9 January 2013|access-date=25 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205214408/http://tehrantimes.com/politics/104773-iran-will-continue-20-percent-enrichment-at-fordo-natanz|archive-date=5 December 2013}}

Daily inspection by the IAEA of the Natanz site was agreed as part of the nuclear enrichment reduction agreement made with the P5+1 countries in November 2013.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25080217|title=Iran nuclear deal: Key points|work=BBC News|date=24 November 2013|access-date=25 November 2013}}

On 28 October 2020, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released satellite images acknowledging that Iran had begun the construction of an underground plant near its nuclear facility at Natanz.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/28/satellite-photos-show-activity-at-irans-natanz-nuclear-facility|title=Satellite photos show activity at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility|access-date=28 October 2020|website=The Independent}} In March 2021, Iran restarted enriching uranium at the Natanz facility with a third set of advanced nuclear centrifuges in a series of violations of the defunct 2015 nuclear accord.{{cite web | last=Murphy | first=Francois | title=Iran enriching with new set of advanced machines at Natanz: IAEA | website=Reuters| date=8 March 2021| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear-iaea-int-idUSKBN2B0262 | access-date=17 March 2021}}

Natanz's nuclear power plant was hit by a sophisticated cyber attack alleged to have been carried out in an operation called Olympic Games by a coalition of German, French, British, American, Dutch and Israeli intelligence organizations. The attack used a Stuxnet worm which hampered the operation of plant's centrifuges and caused damage to them over time.{{cite news |last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |title=Mutually Assured Cyberdestruction? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/sunday-review/mutually-assured-cyberdestruction.html |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=2 June 2012}} The alleged goal of the cyber attack was not to destroy the nuclear program of Iran completely but to stall it enough for sanctions and diplomacy to take effect. This alleged goal was achieved, as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear treaty with Iran was reached in July 2015.{{Cite news|first1=Kim |last1=Zetter |first2=Huib |last2=Modderkolk |url=https://news.yahoo.com/revealed-how-a-secret-dutch-mole-aided-the-us-israeli-stuxnet-cyber-attack-on-iran-160026018.html|title=Revealed: How a secret Dutch mole aided the U.S. - Israeli Stuxnet cyberattack on Iran|work=Yahoo News|date=2 September 2019|access-date=3 September 2019}}

Around 2 a.m. local time on 2 July 2020, a fire and explosion hit a centrifuge production plant at a nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/50c3e7f6445ae99def6bdc65fbce6c42|title=Analysts: Fire at Iran nuclear site hit centrifuge facility|website=Associated Press|date=2 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/us/politics/iran-explosion-nuclear-centrifuges.html|title=Mysterious Explosion and Fire Damage Iranian Nuclear Enrichment Facility|website=The New York Times|date=2 July 2020}} A group known as the "Cheetahs of the Homeland" claimed responsibility for the attack.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-israeli-cyberattack-caused-iran-nuclear-site-fire-f35s-hit-missile-base/|title=Report: Israeli cyberattack caused Iran nuclear site fire, F35s hit missile base|website=The Times of Israel|date=3 July 2020}} Some Iranian officials suggested that the incident may have been caused by cyber sabotage.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear-natanz/iran-threatens-retaliation-after-what-it-calls-possible-cyber-attack-on-nuclear-site-idUSKBN2441VY |title=Iran threatens retaliation after what it calls possible cyber attack on nuclear site |website=Reuters |date=3 July 2020 }}

On 10 April 2021, Iran began injecting uranium hexafluoride gas into advanced IR-6 and IR- 5 centrifuges at Natanz, but on the next day, an accident occurred in the electricity distribution network. [https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/incident-reported-in-iranian-natanz-nuclear-facility-664792 'Accident' at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility after centrifuge activation] On 11 April, IRNA reported that the incident was due to a power failure and that there were no injuries nor any escape of radioactive material.{{Cite web|title=Electrical Problem Strikes Iran's Natanz Nuclear Facility|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/middle-east_voa-news-iran_electrical-problem-strikes-irans-natanz-nuclear-facility/6204425.html|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Voice of America|language=en}} Reports alleged that Mossad had orchestrated the attack.{{cite web|url=https://hamodia.com/2021/04/11/reports-mossad-behind-iran-attack/|title=Reports: Mossad Behind Iran Attack|access-date=11 April 2021|website=Hamodia}}

On 17 April, Iranian state television named 43-year-old Reza Karimi from Kashan as a suspect for the blackout, stating that he had fled the country before the sabotage happened.{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-state-tv-identifies-man-it-says-was-behind-blast-natanz-nuclear-site-2021-04-17/ |title=Iran state TV identifies man it says was behind blast at Natanz nuclear site |date=17 April 2021 |access-date=17 April 2021 |work=Reuters }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-04-17/iran-names-suspect-in-natanz-attack-says-he-fled-country |title=Iran Names Suspect in Natanz Attack, Says He Fled Country |date=17 April 2021 |access-date=17 April 2021 |work=U.S. News & World Report }}

Natanz is located 120 km northeast of Isfahan and on the main north-south highway of Iran. Its altitude is 1666 meters above sea level. The distance between Tehran and Natanz is 326 km, and it takes about 4 hours by car.{{cn|date=March 2024}} The Karkas mountain chain (Kuh-e Karkas) (meaning mountain of vultures), at an elevation of 3,899 meters, rises above the town.The place where Darius III was murdered by his relative, the satrap Bessus, is believed by historians to lie in the region of Ahevanu in Semnan province, much more to the east and north than Natanz.

The average temperature of the city is 27 degrees Celsius and the average annual rainfall is 195 mm.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-14 |title=Visit Natanz Tourist Attractions, Historical & Natural {{!}} Destination Iran |url=https://www.destinationiran.com/natanz-tourist-attractions.htm |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=www.destinationiran.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=NATANZ Geography Population Map cities coordinates location - Tageo.com |url=https://www.tageo.com/index-e-ir-v-28-d-m4329449.htm |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=tageo.com}}

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| location = Natanz (1992-2005)

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| Jun mean C =25.4

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| Apr humidity =37

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| source = IRIMO{{Cite web |title=FORM 5: AVERAGE OF MEAN DAILY TEMPERATURE IN C. Station: Natanz(99241) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/5.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321073019/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/5.asp |archive-date=21 March 2016 |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}{{Cite web |title=FORM 10: AVERAGE OF DEW POINT TEMPERATURE IN C. Station: Natanz(99241) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/10.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518093900/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/10.asp |archive-date=18 May 2013 |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}{{Cite web |title=FORM 14: AVERAGE OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN PERCENT Station: Natanz(99241) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/14.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322031147/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/14.asp |archive-date=22 March 2016 |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}{{Cite web |title=FORM 25: MONTHLY TOTAL OF PRECIPITATION IN MM. Station: Natanz(99241) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/25.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116152158/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/25.asp |archive-date=16 January 2016 |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}{{Cite web |title=FORM 32: NO. OF DAYS WITH SNOW OR SLEET Station: Natanz(99241) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/32.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320013126/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/esf/NATANZ/32.asp |archive-date=20 March 2016 |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}

}}

Natanz saffron is one of the agricultural products of Natanz city, which is compatible with the climate of this region. Natanz saffron is of good quality and most of this product is exported.{{Cite web |title=buying saffron Archives |url=https://www.rowhanisaffron.com/tag/buying-saffron/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Iranian Saffron supplier and exporter |language=en-US}} Because Natanz city has three different types of climate, saffron cultivation in this area has given good results, so that some years it has yielded more than 1600 kg of dry saffron.{{Cite web |last=Iroonia |first=Mr |date=2020-07-05 |title=60 years old saffron cultivation in TorqRud area of Natanz city |url=https://www.rowhanisaffron.com/60-years-old-saffron-cultivation-in-torqrud-area-of-natanz-city/ |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=Iranian Saffron supplier and exporter |language=en-US}}

Currently, the economy of Natanz is in the field of agriculture, people make a living by producing garden products such as pears, beets, walnuts, pomegranates and saffron.{{Cite web |date=14 September 2019 |title=Visit Natanz Tourist Attractions, Historical & Natural {{!}} Destination Iran |url=https://www.destinationiran.com/natanz-tourist-attractions.htm |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=destinationiran.com |language=en-US}} Its pear fruits are well known.Bamford, James. "The Secret War" Wired, 12 June 2013. [https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/06/general-keith-alexander-cyberwar/2/ 2]. Retrieved 14 June 2013.

It is known as the shrine of Abd as-Samad. Elements in the present complex date from 1304 with subsequent additions and restorations, such as the Khaneqah and Muqarnas vault. The tomb honors the Sufi Sheikh Abd al-Samad, and was built by the Sheikh's disciple, the Ilkhanid vizier Zain al-Din Mastari.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

File:Natanz nuclear.jpg|Anti-aircraft guns guarding Natanz nuclear facility

Image:Natanz Stony castle.jpg|Natanz Stone Fortress

Image:Natanz mosque.jpg| Natanz mosque next to the old Chenar

Image:Ancient, Natanz (14288537020).jpg|Ancient tree of Natanz

File:BdO IR 0293 600 Wz (1).jpg |Portal of Abd al-Samad complex

• Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant
• Nuclear facilities in Iran
• Stuxnet computer worm

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{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iran/natanz03_02.html Institute for Science and International Security]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041211011922/http://tehran.stanford.edu/imagemap/natanz.html Stanford University entry on Natanz]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/natanz.htm Entry on Natanz], globalsecurity.org
• [http://www.persiancarpetguide.com/sw-asia/Rugs/Persian/Natanz_Rugs/Sheikh_Abdolsamad_Mosque_Natanz.htm The Sheikh Abdolsamad Mosque in Natanz Iran], persiancarpetguide.com
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140721021444/http://www.natanz.org/ Natanz County], natanz.org
• [http://www.natanznews.ir Natanz News]

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{{Isfahan Province|state=collapsed}}

{{Natanz County|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Natanz}}

Category:Populated places in Natanz County

Category:Cities in Isfahan province

Category:Nuclear program of Iran