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Abadan city

One of the largest oil refineries in the world is located in Abadan. The New York Times cited Israeli officials as saying that the Abadan oil refinery was one of the sites targeted in its air strikes. Iranian authorities confirmed that Khuzestan province had been targeted by Israel. Abadan oil refinery is the country’s largest, capable of producing 500,000 barrels a day, according to its chief executive.

The export terminals Bandar Mahshahr and Abadan (also known as Bandar Imam Khomeini), near the Abadan refinery, are used to export refined product from the Abadan refinery. In 2006 Iran's refineries had a combined capacity of 1.64 million bpd. The largest refineries had the following capacities: Abadan, 400,000 bpd; Esfahan, 265,000 bpd; Bandar-e Abbas, 232,000 bpd; Tehran, 225,000 bpd; Arak, 150,000 bpd; and Tabriz, 112,000 bpd. In 2020 refineries had capacities of : Abadan 360 bpd; Isfahan 360bpd; and Bandar Abbas 330bpd. Oil from most regions of Khuzestan reaches this city by pipeline and after refining it is exported to the whole world. In the year one thousand three hundred and eighteen (1939), the Abadan Oil College started working as the second college in the country (after Tehran Technical College) for the training of expert staff in the Abadan Refinery.

In the year one thousand three hundred and thirty five (1956), the population of this city reached a low figure of two hundred and twenty thousand people, the main reason for which was the start of the refinery and the creation of employment and favorable economic conditions in this city. Abadan prospered and expanded due to the existence of the oil industry. In 1999, following the oil extraction operations in Khuzestan, the oil company built a huge refinery and refineries in Abadan. In the year 1913, Abadan Refinery started its activities with strength, and finally in 1938, Abadan Refinery became the largest oil refinery in the world. After the establishment of the refinery, the economic, political and international importance of this island increased.

In 1951 the government of Iran nationalized its oil assets, assuming control from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, which was majority-owned by the government of Great Britain. In 1952 Iran formed National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to own and supervise all of Iran’s oil assets. But NIOC did not have access to the global oil markets. To avoid possible influence from the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States “devised a plan in which a consortium of newly-formed international corporations would operate the Abadan refinery and some of the other Iranian Oil Premises, under Iranian supervision.” The United States invited several major American companies with operations in the Middle East to participate in an international consortium with other oil companies.

Iran holds some of the world's largest proved crude oil reserves and natural gas reserves. Despite Iran's abundant reserves, crude oil production stagnated and even declined between 2012 and 2016 as a result of nuclear-related international sanctions that targeted Iran's oil exports and limited investment in Iran's energy sector. The United States reinstated sanctions against purchasers of Iran's oil in November 2018, but eight countries that are large importers of Iran's oil received six-month exemptions. In May 2019, these waivers expired, and Iran's crude oil and condensate exports fell below 500,000 b/d for the remainder of 2019 and most of 2020.

Abadan is a city in southwestern Iran thought to have been founded in the 8th century by a holy man named Abbad. The city lies between two rivers—the Shatt al-Arab (or Arvand River) to the west and the Bahmanshir River to the east. Abadan is located in the southwest of Khuzestan province and an island with the same name is located in the north. This island was created due to the presence of Arvandrud in the west, Bahmanshir River in the north and east, and the Persian Gulf in the south, and it is located at the end of the Persian Gulf with an area of about 2796 square kilometers. Its length is about 68 km, its width is between 3 and 20 km, and the height of its highest point is 3 meters above sea level. This city is bordered by Shadgan and Khorramshahr cities from the north, Bandar Mahshahr city and Bahmanshir river from the east, Persian Gulf from the south, and Iraq and Arvandrud from the west. Arvandroud, Bahmanshir and Karun are the most important rivers of the region. Abadan is located in the form of an island by the Persian Gulf and has a hot and humid climate.

The closest city to Abadan is Khorramshahr, which is about 15 kilometers away from this city. The soil of Abadan was created by the alluvium of Karun and Tigris rivers (which are connected). The city of Abadan is in the land surrounded by rivers. This land is known as Abadan Island. The city of Abadan, as well as Arvandkanar and half of Khorramshahr are on this island. The rivers surrounding Abadan, which all flow into the Persian Gulf, are the Tigris and Karun rivers. The largest branch that emerged from the collision of these two rivers is Arvandrud. The other part of this river, which flows on the other side of this island and is less important, is called Bahmanshir. Bahmanshir River is also called Karun in parts of its passage.

Abadan is the center of Abadan city, located in the southwest of Iran in Khuzestan province. This city is the most important city of Khuzestan after Ahvaz. The geographical location of this city is 48 degrees 17 minutes long and 30 degrees 20 minutes latitude, with a height of 3 meters above sea level and a width of 2,796 square kilometers. It has an airport and a port, which has been one of the most important cities in the Middle East and Iran since World War II due to its oil refinery and its strategic location and border with Iraq.

Abadan municipality is one of the oldest municipalities in the country, and the population of this city was around 500,000 people before the imposed war (holy defense). In those cities, they did not return to Abadan after the end of the war. According to the census of 2010, the current population of Abadan city is 220,000 people and the population of Soharestan is 300,000 people. Abadan municipality has three municipal districts and 10 affiliated organizations. For many years, this city has an international airport, customs, port and shipping department, Arvand free trade zone, broadcasting center, refinery and petrochemical. Abadan city has three representatives in the Islamic Council, which shows the importance of this large city in the southwest of the country. The governorship of Abadan city is special, and its governor is also the deputy governor of Khuzestan, and the decree of the mayor of this city is issued by the interior minister after the proposal of the city's Islamic council. There are 13 members of the Islamic Council of Abadan. The decision to appoint the mayor of this city is issued by the Minister of Interior after a proposal from the Islamic Council of the city.

Opatan is the oldest name of Abadan, which is derived from two words ((O)) meaning water in the old local language and ((Patan)) meaning guards - they also said; "Opatan" (he = water and patan from the infinitive of walking). Actually, it was a place where water and river were guarded and taken care of. This island was called "Ibadan" in the past, some people believe that this name is derived from the name of a famous and pious person named "Ibad" who lived in this place. Yakut Hamavi named the large island of Abadan "Mian Rood". Naser Khosrow Qabadiani also saw Abadan in 438 AH and described it. The famous Arab traveler Ibn Battuta also visited Ibadan Island during his trip and introduced it as a large village in a flat and salty plain. In recent centuries, this island has also been mentioned as "Jazeera Al-Akhdar". During the Abbasid period, Abadan changed from a village to a small city.

During the past two thousand years, Abadan Island has always been prosperous and civilized, and in every period of Iran's ancient history, it has been named "Misan" in the mythological and legendary period. The names "Masneh" and "Kharax" were called. From the Parthian era until the time of Ardeshir Babkan Sassanid, this city was called by the names of "Antioh", "Alexander", "Tigermah", "Alexandria", "Antioch", "Harak", "Kharak" and "Spasino", which turned the region into a strategic military, economic and maritime commercial center in the north of the Persian Gulf and ruled over the region of Abadan, Khorramshahr and around Basra and Kuwait by minting special coins for more than three hundred years.

After killing "Bandu", the last king of the independent state of Abadan, Ardashir also changed its name, and in the Sassanid period it was called "Astazabad Ardashir" or "Karkh Maysan" and it was the trading base of Chinese, Indian, Arab and Roman merchants. Abadan was called "Ibadan" in the Islamic period, and it was also called "Al-Khidr Island" in local and religious narratives. The name of Bahmanshir River is a reminder of that old name.

The name "Ibadan" is derived from "Abad" (pious), the ancient name "Opatan" which means sea border guards. Ptolemy, known as the father of geography, used the names "Aifana" and "Aifadana" for Abadan in the 2nd century AD and "Marsian" Jagrfidan in the 4th century AD, respectively. Ahmad Moghdisi says about the human geography of "Ibadan": (The Ibadani were fanatical, unified and bound Shiites). Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (AS) said: Four cities in the world are from heaven: Alexandria, Ashkelon, Ibadan and Qazvin (Selected History p. 771)

Throughout history, the Ottomans and Iran have always been in conflict over the possession of this island, but finally in the year 1874, this island was owned by Iran. In 1314, the name of Ibadan was changed to Abadan by the approval of the then Council of Ministers. During the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the name of Ibadan was changed to Abadan.

In Iran in 1359, Khurshidi was considered one of the most magnificent and prosperous cities of Iran. But with the beginning of the eight-year war, the city was attacked by enemies and the city turned into a huge ruin. At the very beginning of the Tahami war, Abadan was surrounded by the enemies, but with the zeal of the Iranian youth, the ground was broken during the operation of Saman al-Aima, Hesr Abadan, but this city was still the target of enemy rockets and mortars. Immediately after the war, the reconstruction of this city and its huge refinery began. The reconstruction and renovation work of this city has been completed for several years and.