News: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in Iran suffered recent damage during ongoing US–Israeli attacks.
Major Nuclear Sites of Iran
- Natanz Nuclear Facility (near Kashan, Isfahan Province): Natanz is Iran’s primary uranium enrichment center containing large centrifuge facilities.
- Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (near Qom): Fordow is an underground uranium enrichment facility built deep inside a mountain to protect its centrifuge operations.
- Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center (Isfahan): This large nuclear complex includes the uranium conversion facility, fuel manufacturing plants, and research reactors.
- The center was established in 1984 with Chinese assistance, making it one of the major internationally supported nuclear facilities in Iran.
- Arak Heavy Water Reactor / Khondab Reactor (near Arak): The Arak site contains a heavy water production plant and the IR-40 reactor.
- The reactor design raised international concern because it could produce plutonium suitable for nuclear weapons.
- Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (near Bushehr, Persian Gulf coast): Bushehr is Iran’s first nuclear power plant operating a pressurized water reactor for civilian electricity generation.
- Original construction began in 1975 (German project) before Russian involvement in 1995.
- Tehran Research Reactor (Tehran): This research reactor produces medical isotopes and supports nuclear research activities.
- It was supplied by the United States under the Atoms for Peace program in 1967 and later converted to low-enriched uranium fuel with assistance from Argentina.
- Saghand Uranium Mine (Yazd Province): Saghand is Iran’s first uranium ore mine, supplying uranium ore that forms the initial stage of the nuclear fuel cycle.
- Ardakan Uranium Mill (Ardakan, Yazd Province): This facility processes uranium ore into yellowcake, which is later used in uranium conversion and enrichment processes.
- Darkhovin Nuclear Power Project (Darkhovin, Khuzestan Province): Darkhovin is a planned domestically built nuclear power plant intended to generate electricity using nuclear energy.
- Parchin Military Complex (near Tehran): Parchin is a military research complex linked with explosives testing and suspected nuclear weapons-related experiments.
- Lashkar Abad Pilot Plant (near Tehran): Lashkar Abad is a pilot nuclear facility where laser isotope separation experiments for uranium enrichment were conducted.
- Lavizan-Shian Research Site (Tehran): Lavizan was a technical research facility whose buildings were demolished between 2003 and 2004 before international inspections.
- Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La Underground Site (near Natanz, Zagros Mountains): This deep underground complex located near Natanz has been developed inside the Zagros mountain range.
- Gchine Uranium Mine (near Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province): Gchine is a uranium mine that supplies uranium ore for Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle.
