Kolahdouz
The possible existence of a nuclear-related facility at this site was first reported on July 8, 2003, by the National Council of Resistance of Iran [NCRI], the political wing of the People's Mujahedeen; and organization listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organization.
Located about 14 kilometers west of Tehran, the plant is repotedly concealed within a large military complex. NIMA's only rendering of this name is Kolah Duz, but the name of this facility is also transliterated as Kolahdouz, Kolahdooz, or Kolahdoz.
For the production for the ground forces, the Defense Industry Organization [DIO] has devoted major resources within the framework of R&D on armored fighting vehicles (AFV and APC). For transport and support of troops, the "Boragh" APC was developed. Built by the Shahid Kolahdooz Industrial Complex division of the DIO, it is similar to Russian BMP-1 or its Chinese equivalent by NORINCO (WZ 501-Type 90), of which it improves certain characteristics.
According to the NCRI, the facility at Kolahdouz is dedicated to uranium enrichment. Centrifuge equipment located there is repotedly meant to operate as a supplement to the uranium enrichment site in Natanz, and with the experience gained there to be ultimately used at the larger facility at Natanz.
One facility is located near the Kolahdouz [Kolahduz sp?] complex, where a number of large warehouses and workshops for building tanks, armored personnel carriers and delicate mechanical parts are located. It is located at kilometer 14 of the Terhan-Karaj Highway, Shahriar exit, Kolahdouz complex.
This complex is affiliated with the Defense Industry Organization. The section that is related to the nuclear program is located near the riverbank, and is hidden among other warehouses in a way that would not draw attention. This indicates that not only the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is involved in the nuclear weapons program, but also the Ministry of Defense is also involved in the nuclear weapons program.
This site covers about 4,000 square meters (nearly 40,000 square feet) in all area, 50 meters (150 ft) by 80 meters (260 ft). The centrifuge equipment installed here acts as a pilot facility. Reports indicate that Iran has obtained the needed material and they intend to do the testing of the centrifuge equipment to enrich uranium.
This site includes the clean [vacuum] environment in which the centrifuge equipment can best operate. This will eventually act as a supplement to the uranium enrichment site in Natanz. At this pilot facility, uranium will be enriched, the process will be perfected, and the experience will be used for the main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz.
The information about this site is top secret and the Iranian government has hidden this site among a number of buildings and workshops of the Kolahdouz Industrial Complex. This site is under the direct supervision of Dr. Ghaffarian, the head of the Defense Industry Organization.
Those working here are under very strict rules of information security. As a result the experts here are exposed to information only related to their own work. None of the employees are allowed to reveal any information as to the nature, location, and subject of their work with anybody outside the complex.
In late May 2003, Morteza Ostad Ali Mukhmalbaff, the head of the Intelligence Security of the Defense Industry Organization, and Brigadier General Mohammad Beig Mohammad Lou, Deputy Coordinator of the Defense Industry Organization (involved in the enrichment of uranium), hid a number of containers related to the pilot facility here in a warehouse about 2,000 square meters (20,000 square feet) with dimensions of 80 meters (260 feet) by 25 meters (80 feet). These containers are sealed and there has been a great emphasis that no one should know of the existence of these containers. This warehouse is surrounded by an auto junkyard, having other warehouses filled with wrecked cars. This warehouse is located at Martyred Kazemi complex of the Defense Industry Organization, next to the Kolahdouz complex.
A technical team of the IAEA visited Iran from 4 to 12 October 2003 in order to carry out activities related to the verification of Iran's activities in the areas of uranium conversion and laser and gas centrifuge enrichment. Following up on recent open source reports of enrichment activities being undertaken at the industrial complex in Kolahdouz in western Tehran, the team was permitted on 5 October 2003 to visit three locations which the Agency had identified as corresponding to those mentioned in the reports. While no work was seen at those locations that could be linked to uranium enrichment, environmental samples were taken.
The head of the Defense Industry Organization is Dr. Ghaffarian. The head of the Special Industry is Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Gharmanesh and the head of the Kolahdouz complex is Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Janad Rabbani.
