Profiles: Prominent Iranian nuclear scientists assassinated in latest Israeli aggression

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

In the early hours of Friday, at least nine prominent Iranian nuclear scientists were tragically killed in a brutal terrorist attack orchestrated by the Israeli regime on their homes, which also resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians.

Among the victims were Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi, who media outlets described as significant figures in the advancement of Iran’s nuclear program.

Tehranchi, a theoretical physicist, was the president of Iran’s Islamic Azad University of Iran and also served as Vice President for Research and Technology at Shahid Beheshti University for over a decade.

Abbasi, a former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and ex-member of the Iranian parliament, held a PhD in nuclear physics and conducted research for the defense ministry.

He narrowly escaped an Israeli assassination attempt in Tehran in 2010, in which his colleague, nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari, was killed.

Other notable scientists who perished in the tragic Israeli assaults were Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Amir Hossein Faghihi, Motallebzadeh, Ali Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Borji.

Martyr Dr. Abdolhamid Minoocher

Dr. Abdolhamid Minoocher, born in 1962, was a distinguished nuclear engineer who earned his PhD in Moscow.

Upon returning to Iran, he joined the faculty of Shahid Beheshti University, where his expertise spanned reactor physics, nuclear simulation, and advanced nuclear fuels.

He conducted extensive research focused on enhancing the efficiency and safety of nuclear power plants, publishing numerous scientific papers in prestigious national and international journals.

As the head of the Faculty of Nuclear Engineering at Shahid Beheshti University, Dr. Minoocher played a pivotal role in shaping the faculty’s educational and research programs.

With his profound insight and compassionate leadership, he laid a strong foundation for nurturing a new generation of dedicated specialists in Iran’s nuclear industry.

Dr. Minoocher’s remarkable contributions to Iranian academia earned him numerous prestigious honors, including the National Exemplary Professor Award, Top Researcher at Shahid Beheshti University, the First-Class Scientific Medal from the President of Iran, and the Allameh Tabataba’i Award for Best Academic Book

Martyr Dr. Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari

Dr. Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari was a distinguished professor and a leading academic at the Faculty of Nuclear Engineering at Shahid Beheshti University.

Throughout his career, he served in both academic and managerial roles, making significant contributions to education and research in nuclear sciences.

His work was particularly impactful in strategic and vital areas crucial to the country’s advancement in nuclear technology, reflecting his dedication to both scientific excellence and national progress.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Dr. Zolfaghari made significant contributions to resource management and served as editor-in-chief of the Nuclear Energy Quarterly Journal.

His published research primarily focused on heavy concrete, lead, gamma radiation, and mechanical resistance.

Both Dr. Minoocher and Dr. Zolfaghari actively participated in national strategic projects, playing vital roles in advancing Iran’s scientific and technical self-sufficiency and the indigenization of technical knowledge.

Martyr Dr. Seyed Amir Hossein Faghihi

Dr. Seyed Amir Hossein Faghihi was a full professor, recognized as a national scientific elite, and a valued faculty member at Shahid Beheshti University.

He also held key managerial roles, serving as the former Deputy Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the former Head of the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute.

Dr. Faghihi earned his BSc in Physics with a nuclear orientation in 2000 from the University of Urmia. He continued his studies at Amirkabir University of Technology, where he completed his MSc and PhD in Nuclear Engineering (energy orientation) in 2003 and 2008, respectively.

He played a critical role in developing new nuclear technologies and advancing Iran’s scientific and research infrastructure.

He also authored several important academic books and numerous research articles in nuclear science and technology, leaving a lasting impact on the field.

Martyr Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi

Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a prominent university professor, was a leading scientific, cultural, and strategic figure in Iran’s higher education system and a foundational force in the development of modern and strategic sciences such as nuclear physics.

Since the early 2000s, he had been instrumental in founding key institutions like the Laser Research Institute and the Faculty of Advanced Technologies at Shahid Beheshti University.

His work played a significant role in expanding Iran’s scientific and technological frontiers.

Dr. Tehranchi served as president of Shahid Beheshti University from 2012 to 2016 before becoming president of the Islamic Azad University, Tehran branch.

Since 2018, he has held the position of President of the entire Islamic Azad University system.

Widely recognized as a leading figure in the development of nuclear science and photonics in Iran, Dr. Tehranchi actively contributed to national strategic projects, including advanced nuclear research and sensitive technological programs.

His involvement in these scientific efforts led to sanctions against him by the US Treasury Department in 2020.

Dr. Tehranchi’s academic achievements are extensive, including over 98 published articles in domestic and international scientific journals, more than 130 conference presentations, supervision of dozens of MSc and PhD theses, and leadership of 17 large-scale national scientific and technological projects.

Martyr Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi

Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, born in 1958 in Abadan, was a full professor of nuclear physics and one of Iran’s most prominent scientific and national figures.

He completed his higher education in nuclear physics at Shiraz University, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, and Amirkabir University of Technology.

His scientific expertise encompassed sensitive and strategic fields, including nuclear physics, isotope separation, radiation dosimetry, particle accelerators, and plasma focus systems.

As one of the founders of the Iranian Nuclear Society, Dr. Abbasi held several leadership roles, such as former head of the Physics Faculty at Imam Hossein University and head of the Laser Research Center at Malek Ashtar Industrial University.

He supervised numerous MSc and PhD theses and authored over 40 scientific articles in reputable journals. In recognition of his contributions, he received the National Exemplary Professor Award in 2007.

In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Abbasi served in key executive positions, including Vice President of Iran and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran from 2011 to 2013.

In his capacity as Vice President and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization, Dr. Abbasi played a vital role in the advancement of Iran’s nuclear program.

Later, he was elected as a representative of the people of Kazerun and Kouhchenar in Iran’s Parliament, where he chaired the Energy Commission during the 11th term.

Because of his prominent role in Iran’s nuclear endeavors, Dr. Abbasi was subjected to draconian sanctions by the UN Security Council in 2007.

In November 2010, he survived an Israeli terrorist assassination attempt in Tehran involving a magnetic bomb, an attack that coincided with the assassination of another nuclear scientist, Dr. Majid Shahriari.

Dr. Abbasi remained on the US and Western sanction lists due to his significant contributions to Iran’s nuclear technology development. His legacy endures in Iranian history as that of a dedicated scientist, visionary leader, and passionate advocate for scientific progress.

Other nuclear scientists martyred in the attacks

Limited information is available about Motallebzadeh, the sixth Iranian nuclear scientist targeted in the recent assassinations. He and his wife both lost their lives in Friday’s terror attack.

Media reports on Saturday also identified Ali Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Borji among the victims of Friday’s terrorist attacks carried out by the Zionist regime.

Saeed Borji was a researcher at Malek Ashtar University of Technology, specializing in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Engineering (Solid).

He had previously collaborated with the renowned Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was assassinated by the Israeli regime in 2020.

Little information is publicly available about Mansour Asgari and Ali Karimi.

Iranian martyr’s teenage daughter gives IAEA chief lesson in nuclear diplomacy

The young daughter of the slain Iranian nuclear scientist in a powerful speech drew the attention of the IAEA chief to the devastating impact of US sanctions on Iranian patients struggling with life-threatening diseases.

Israeli assassinations of nuclear scientists

Since at least 2010, several Iranian nuclear scientists have been assassinated in Israeli attacks on the soil of Iran, including some prominent figures such as Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

It started with Ardeshir Hosseinpour's assassination on January 15, 2007, followed by Massoud Alimohammadi on January 12, 2010, and Majid Shahriari on November 29, 2010.

Dariush Rezainejad was the fourth Iranian nuclear scientist to be assassinated in a span of four years

Rezainejad's assassination was followed by that of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan on January 11, 2012, which marked the second martyrdom anniversary of his former colleague Alimohammadi.

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, known as the architect of Iran’s modern nuclear energy industry, was assassinated on November 27, 2020, on the outskirts of Tehran.

The UN nuclear agency has been accused of adopting a political and partisan stance toward Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, while showing leniency toward the Israeli regime, despite Tehran’s full and unconditional cooperation with the IAEA, including allowing regular inspections.

In contrast, Israel has refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), repeatedly and dismissively rejected calls to join this cornerstone of the international arms control framework, and does not permit the UN nuclear agency to inspect or monitor its nuclear sites.

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