The November 27 killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh is the latest in a string of killings of men allegedly linked to Iran’s nuclear program. Fakhrizadeh is at least the fifth Iranian scientist to have been assassinated or die in mysterious circumstances since 2007.
The Black List: Assassinated Iranian Scientists
- By RFE/RL
1
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (1961-2020)
Fakhrizadeh was a member of Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The physicist
was described as the "brains" behind Iran's nuclear program.
Fakhrizadeh was a member of Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The physicist
was described as the "brains" behind Iran's nuclear program.
2
Fakhrizadeh's bullet-riddled car after the lethal attack near Tehran on November 27. Initial reports suggested several gunmen had attacked the physicist's car after detonating a bomb nearby.
But Iran has since claimed that remote-controlled "electronic equipment" was used in the attack, and that no assassins were present at the scene. Images released by Iranian state media show a puddle of blood on the road next to the car seen in this photo, and what appears to be the remains of a large explosion littering the road where the physicist was killed.
But Iran has since claimed that remote-controlled "electronic equipment" was used in the attack, and that no assassins were present at the scene. Images released by Iranian state media show a puddle of blood on the road next to the car seen in this photo, and what appears to be the remains of a large explosion littering the road where the physicist was killed.
3
Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan (1979-2012)
Roshan was an academic who also worked at Iran’s Natanz nuclear-enrichment facility.
Roshan was an academic who also worked at Iran’s Natanz nuclear-enrichment facility.
4
The Peugot 405 that Roshan was driving when he was killed in January 2012, on display in Tehran. According to witnesses, one of two riders on a motorcycle stuck a magnetic bomb to the door of Roshan’s car and then disappeared into traffic before the explosive detonated. The blast also killed Roshan’s driver.
5
Majid Shahriari (1966-2010)
Shahriari was a nuclear scientist who cooperated with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
Shahriari was a nuclear scientist who cooperated with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
6
Shahriari’s vehicle after he was killed in a blast in Tehran in November 2010. The scientist was also killed by a bomb attached to his door by motorcyclists.
7
Massud Ali-Mohammadi (1959-2010)
Ali-Mohammadi was a professor of physics at the University of Tehran and, according to his wife, was secretly involved in Iran’s nuclear program.
Ali-Mohammadi was a professor of physics at the University of Tehran and, according to his wife, was secretly involved in Iran’s nuclear program.
8
A shrapnel-peppered gate at the scene of Ali-Mohammadi’s assassination in a Tehran suburb. The physicist was killed when a parked motorcycle fitted with a fragmentation explosive detonated near his car as he left for work in January 2010.
9
Ardeshir Hosseinpur (1962-2007)
Hosseinpur was a physics professor and electromagnetism expert. He died in Isfahan in January 2007 under mysterious circumstances. Some reports said he was “gassed,” while others claimed he was killed by radiation poisoning. Although many people suspected Israeli involvement in his death, his sister later claimed he was killed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps after refusing to help Iran develop nuclear weapons.
Hosseinpur was a physics professor and electromagnetism expert. He died in Isfahan in January 2007 under mysterious circumstances. Some reports said he was “gassed,” while others claimed he was killed by radiation poisoning. Although many people suspected Israeli involvement in his death, his sister later claimed he was killed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps after refusing to help Iran develop nuclear weapons.
