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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Six Iranian nuclear scientists killed in Israeli strikes
Listen to article 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 Israeli regime's military strikes on Tehran has claimed the lives of at least six Iranian nuclear scientists. — Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) June 13, 2025 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… — 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.
LBCI
a day ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Israel's attack on Iran kills six nuclear scientists
At least six nuclear scientists were killed Friday in Israel's attacks on Iran, local media reported. "Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feqhi, Motalleblizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoun Abbasi were the nuclear scientists martyred" in Israel's attack, Tasnim news agency said. AFP
News24
a day ago
- Politics
- News24
No increase in Iran radiation following Israel strike to ‘eliminate the threat'
There is no increase in radiation levels in Iran following an Israeli strike on nuclear sites. At least six nuclear scientists were killed in the strikes. Israel insists Iran was heading toward the production of a nuclear bomb. The International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday said there was no increase in radiation levels at the Natanz nuclear site that was targeted during an Israeli attack, citing information given to them by Iranian authorities. The international atomic energy watchdog also added that the Bushehr nuclear power plant was not targeted during the attack. AFP reported that at least six nuclear scientists were killed on Friday in Israel's attacks on Iran, according to local media. 'Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feqhi, Motalleblizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoun Abbasi were the nuclear scientists martyred' in Israel's attack, Tasnim news agency said. The Israeli military said on Friday that the intelligence it had gathered showed Iran was approaching the 'point of no return' on its nuclear programme. 'In recent months, accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime is approaching the point of no return,' it said in a statement. 'The convergence of the Iranian regime's efforts to produce thousands of kilogrammes of enriched uranium, alongside decentralised and fortified enrichment compounds in underground facilities, enables the Iranian regime to enrich uranium to military-grade levels, enabling the regime to obtain a nuclear weapon within a short period of time,' it added. In a separate briefing to journalists, Israeli army spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that Israeli jets had also 'attacked and damaged' Iranian air defence systems. Defrin said Israel saw a three-pronged threat from Iran. Firstly, Iran was 'rushing toward a nuclear bomb', he said. 'We are now revealing for the first time, based on intelligence, that the Iranian regime has established a secret programme. 'As part of this programme, senior nuclear scientists in Iran secretly conducted experiments to advance all the necessary components for building a nuclear weapon,' said Defrin. 'This is unequivocal proof that the Iranian regime is working to acquire nuclear weapons in the near future,' he said. Defrin said the second part of the threat involved Iran building thousands of ballistic missiles 'with plans to double and triple them'. 'The third component: The Iranian regime continues to arm, fund and direct its proxies across the Middle East against the State of Israel,' he added. Our operation's goal is to eliminate the threat. Effie Defrin In another statement the military said it had gathered materials showing the 'Iranian regime had a concrete plan to destroy the state of Israel'. The plan was named 'The Destruction of Israel Plan', the military said. 'The State of Israel was left with no choice. The IDF is obligated to act in order to defend the citizens of the State of Israel and will continue to do so,' it added. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that Israel's strikes on Iran are concerning and that all parties need to step back and reduce tensions, reported Reuters. Israel did not warn France ahead of its attack on Iran because it is no longer as close an ally as it was before, its ambassador to France said on Friday, adding that the strikes on Iran would last days and aimed to stop its nuclear programme. Ufuk Celal Guzel/Anadolu via Getty Images 'The French state for a certain period is not as close as it was before,' Joshua Zarka, who was previously in charge of the Iran dossier at the Israeli foreign ministry, told RTL radio. 'It's an ally but not to the point to be pre-warned of such an operation.' Pakistan, the only Islamic country with nuclear weapons, 'strongly condemned' on Friday a wave of Israeli strikes on its neighbour Iran, AFP reported. The strikes stoked fears of a full-blown war in the region and jeopardised US-Iran nuclear talks set for Sunday in Oman. 'Strongly condemn unjustified Israeli attacks on Islamic republic of Iran,' Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar wrote on X. He said Pakistan, which does not recognise Israel, 'stands in solidarity with the Government & the people of Iran'. Israel's military said Iran launched about 100 drones toward Israel on Friday and that it was making an effort to shoot them down, following a wave of Israeli air strikes across the Islamic republic, according to AFP. 'Iran launched approximately 100 UAVs toward Israeli territory, which we are working to intercept,' Defrin told journalists. He added that Israel's strikes on Iran involved 200 fighter jets striking about 100 targets across Iran.
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Six nuclear scientists killed in Israeli attacks, Tasnim news agency reports
The Republican Guard-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported that six nuclear scientists were killed in Israel's attack on Iran. "Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feqhi, Motalleblizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoun Abbasi were the nuclear scientists martyred" in Israel's attack, Tasnim reported.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Six nuclear scientists killed in Israel attack on Iran: Report
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel At least six Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed after Israel attacked Tehran, AP reported citing local media reported."Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feqhi, Motalleblizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, and Fereydoun Abbasi were the nuclear scientists martyred in Israel's attack," Tasnim news agency said. Iran 's top military officials, including chief of armed forces Mohammad Bagheri and chief of Revolutionary Guards Hossein of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard were attacked as Israel targeted several sites across Tehran including nuclear and military Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel struck Iran's nuclear facility at Natanz and targeted scientists. He added that the operation against Iran would "continue as many days as it takes."Iranian media also reported that explosions were heard in Tehran as tensions mounted over US' scheduled talks this weekend to win Iran's agreement to halt production of material for an atomic bomb.A state of emergency has been declared by Israel, anticipating a retaliatory missile and drone strike by Iran's air defence systems have been placed on full alert.
