Tabas (Persian: طبس, also Romanized as Ṭabas), formerly known as Golshan,[2] is the capital city of Tabas County in South Khorasan Province of Iran.[3] At the 2011 census, its population was 35,150, in 9,903 families.[4]

Tabas طبس
City
Hosein Ibn Mosa Alkazem's Shrine in Tabas
Tabas
Coordinates: 33°35′45″N 56°55′28″E
Country	Iran
Province	South Khorasan
County	Tabas
Bakhsh	Central
Elevation	2,188 ft (667 m)
Population  (2016 Census)
• Total	39,676 [1]
Time zone	UTC+3:30 (IRST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+4:30 (IRDST)

Tabas is located in central Iran, 950 kilometers southeast of Tehran, in South Khorasan Province.^{[citation needed]} At first, it was part of the Khorasan province, but in 2001, it was joined to the Yazd Province.[5] However, in 2013, it was returned to Khorasan, and it became part of South Khorasan province.[3] The name Khorasan means the land of the rising sun. There are two other places in Khorasan called Tabas, but the name Tabas usually refers to the city under discussion.

It is a desert city with many date and citrus trees. It has a 300-year-old public garden (Bagh-e-Golshan).[6] There is also a shrine in Tabas that is visited every year by thousands of pilgrims. Tabas has two universities with 2,500 to 3,500 students.[7] The city has hot summers, and people rarely see a winter snowfall.

The people of Tabas speak a Khorasani accent of Persian that sounds somewhat different from the standard Iranian version ("Tehrani accent").

History

The history of Tabas dates back to pre-Islamic times. It was an important outpost of the Sassanid empire, and during the Arab invasion, it was considered the gateway to Khorasan. It was spared when the Mongols attacked Iran. It had a local government incorporating not only Tabas but also Ferdows and Gonabad. After the death of Nader Shah in 1747, it as under the control of the Zangu'i Arabs as an independent state which included nearby Tun.[8][9] For a time they even kidnapped Nader Mirza Afshar and placed the Kurds of Khabushan in control of Mashhad.

In 1978, the 7.4 M_w  Tabas earthquake affected the city with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). At least 15,000 people were killed. Since then, the city has been rebuilt with many new streets, parks and public buildings.

Climate

Tabas has a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh).

Operation Eagle Claw

The failed rescue American operation Operation Eagle Claw on 24–25 April 1980 to free American hostages in Tehran occurred near Tabas. In Iran, the operation is called amaliat tabas (Tabas operation), and the significance and aftermath of the failed operation made the city Tabas known in almost every corner of Iran.[10] The Tabas air defense system is accordingly named so.

Transport

Multiple bus lines, a railroad station and an airport connect Tabas to Mashhad, Yazd, Tehran, Kerman and Birjand (the capital city of South Khorasan province).

Agricultural products

ُThe agricultural products of this desert city are very significant. Products such as: oranges, pistachios, dates, persimmons, summer fruits and daffodils; Also, tea bread, chickpea bread, and jams that are prepared from agricultural products, such as: spring orange jam, balang jam, orange peel jam, and Tabas mountain and local liqueurs.[11]

Mines

Tabas has some of the richest coal mines of Iran.[12]

Notable people

• Abbas Vaez-Tabasi, born 25 June 1935 in Tabas; Grand Imam and Chairman of the Astan Quds Razavi board
• Massoud Rajavi, born 18 August 1948 in Tabas; one of the two leaders of the People's Mujahedin of Iran

Gallery

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  Bagh-e-Golshan

References

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