Six nuclear scientists in Iran were killed in Israel’s attack on Friday. The semi-official Tasnim news agency identified the victims as Abdulhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Seyyed Amirhossein Faqhi, Motablizadeh, Mohammed Mehdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoun Abbasi.
Abdulhamid Minouchehr
He held a crucial, albeit lower-profile, position in Iran’s nuclear sector, where he oversaw enrichment logistics and operations at a key facility. His death in the strikes has been confirmed by Iranian media.
Ahmadreza Zolfaghari
He was acknowledged by Iranian sources as a nuclear physicist who contributed to uranium processing. He was regarded as an essential member of the technical team responsible for sustaining nuclear fuel enrichment efforts.
Seyyed Amirhossein Faqhi
He worked on sensitive nuclear projects, including centrifuge calibration and enrichment enhancement under classified directives. While details about his official affiliations remain unclear, his efforts were central to improving Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities.
Motablizadeh
He was identified solely by surname, was a nuclear specialist likely engaged in lab research or quality assurance within Iran’s enrichment programme. Local sources listed him among those killed in the recent attacks.
Mohammed Mehdi Tehranchi
He was a physicist and president of Islamic Azad University, played a key role in promoting scientific research and nuclear education in Iran. His contributions aligned with the country’s strategic tech ambitions, and he was committed to advancing Iran’s self-reliance in science.
Fereydoun Abbasi
He previously led the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and was instrumental in shaping the country’s nuclear programme over the past 20 years. A survivor of a 2010 assassination attempt, he was sanctioned by the United Nations due to alleged involvement in secret nuclear weapons activity.
Abbasi was a vocal advocate for Iran’s nuclear ambitions, describing them as peaceful and vital to national interests.
Tasnim condemned the attack, stating that Israel’s actions demonstrated its objective to undermine Iran’s scientific and technological progress.
The agency accused Israel of waging a covert war against Iranian scientists through acts of terror.
In the early morning, Israel attacked Iran, targeting the country’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military personnel on Friday at the start of what it said was a prolonged military engagement carried out under the pretext of preventing Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Iranian media and witnesses reported explosions, including at the country’s main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, while Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of any retaliation.
Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami was assassinated in the attack, IRNA reported.
The unit’s headquarters in Tehran had been hit. Several children had been killed in a strike on a residential area in the capital, said state media.
Read more: Israel attacks Iran, targets nuclear facilities and military factories
“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded video message.
“Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a statement that Israel had “unleashed its wicked and bloody” hand in a crime against Iran and that it would receive “a bitter fate for itself”.
An Israeli military official said Israel was striking “dozens” of nuclear and military targets, including the facility at Natanz in central Iran. The official said Iran had enough material to make 15 nuclear bombs within days.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
US not involved
US President Donald Trump would convene a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday morning, the White House said.
Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its… pic.twitter.com/5FFesh3dkF
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 13, 2025
Iran’s armed forces spokesperson said Israel and its chief ally, the United States, would pay a “heavy price” for the attack, accusing Washington of providing support for the operation.
