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Iran sends its top nuclear scientists into hiding. Here's why
Pictures of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes are displayed in southern Tehran, Iran. WANA via Reuters/File Photo
Iran has reportedly moved its remaining nuclear scientists into hiding after Israel killed at least 14 researchers during the 12-day conflict in June.
According to a report by the UK's The Telegraph, over 15 scientists are no longer living in their homes or working at universities and have been relocated to undisclosed places.
Meanwhile, Israeli experts claim that a new group of Iranian nuclear scientists is ready to continue the work of those killed, describing them as 'dead men walking'.
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So, why has Iran chosen to hide its remaining scientists? What is Israel saying?
Here's a look:
Why did Iran move top nuclear scientists to safe houses?
Simply put, this was done because of Israel's targeted killings of several Iranian nuclear researchers during the recent 12-day conflict.
A senior Iranian official told The Telegraph that more than 15 top scientists who survived have left their homes and universities to hide in secure locations in Tehran or along the northern coast.
The report says it has seen the names of over 15 of these surviving scientists on a list of about 100 held by Israel. According to Israeli claims, those on the list must now decide whether to continue their work and risk more attacks or leave the field altogether.
This picture shows the destruction at Evin prison after Israeli air strikes the previous month, in Tehran, on July 1, 2025. AFP/File Photo
'Most of them are no longer living in their houses – they are either moved to safe houses in Tehran or to the north,' the Iranian official told The Telegraph.
He further said: 'Those who were teaching at universities are replaced with people who have no connection with the nuclear programme.'
The move comes amid fears, fuelled by Israeli briefings, that more assassinations may take place. It also follows Iran's execution this week of one of its own nuclear scientists.
Roozbeh Vadi, who had worked at one of Iran's most sensitive nuclear sites, was hanged on Wednesday over allegations that he passed information to Israel, helping in the killing of his colleagues during the June conflict, the report said.
What is Israel saying?
Israeli experts believe a new generation of Iranian nuclear scientists is ready to take over the work of those killed, describing them as 'dead men walking' despite tighter security measures such as safe houses and round-the-clock protection.
According to them, Iran has designed its nuclear research programme so that each key figure has at least one deputy, working in groups of two or three to ensure the work continues if someone is targeted.
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Israeli sources told The Telegraph they suspect some of the surviving scientists have stepped into the roles of their slain colleagues in Iran's nuclear weaponisation programme at the Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, or SPND. These include experts in explosives, neutron physics and warhead design.
'While the eliminated scientists focused more on warhead design, the expertise in delivery systems makes those who remain equally strategic targets for Israel, as Israel's June 2025 strikes also targeted ballistic missile infrastructure,' Israeli intelligence and defence analyst Ronen Solomon told the publication.
Danny Citrinowicz, former head of the Iranian strategic desk in Israeli Defense Intelligence, said the remaining scientists face a clear choice.
'Those who are left will be at the forefront of any Iranian attempt to reach a nuclear bomb, hence they will automatically become targets for Israel, as Israel has shown in the past. I have no doubt about it. Any scientist who deals with the nuclear issue will be eliminated or will be threatened with elimination,' Citrinowicz told the publication.
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Iran, however, has consistently denied running a nuclear weapons programme, insisting its nuclear work is purely for civilian purposes.
The move comes amid fears, fuelled by Israeli briefings, that more assassinations may take place. Reuters/File Photo
What happened in June 2025?
At least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in targeted attacks by Israel.
According to the Israeli military, nine of them died in the first wave of strikes on June 13. They were described as having 'decades of accumulated experience in the development of nuclear weapons' and included experts in chemistry, materials, explosives and physics.
Israel's ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, told the Associated Press that the scientists were targeted 'not because of the fact that they knew physics, but because of the fight that they were personally involved in, the creation and the fabrication and the production of (a) nuclear weapon.'
Experts say that decades of Iranian work on nuclear energy, and what Western powers claim is nuclear weapons development, has left the country with a deep pool of knowledge and trained scientists who could continue any efforts to produce warheads for Iran's ballistic missiles.
With inputs from agencies
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