Six Iranian Nuclear Scientists Killed in Israeli Airstrikes on Iran
Israel launched a series of airstrikes early on Friday, June 13, 2025, targeting sensitive Iranian sites, resulting in the deaths of six of Iran’s prominent nuclear scientists, along with several high-ranking military leaders.
According to Iran’s Tasnim agency, the scientists killed in the attack include: Abdolhamid Minouchahr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Amir Hossein Faqihi, Matlabi Zadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, the Head of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran, and Faridun Abbasi, who previously served as the Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
These strikes, as reported by Israeli media, were part of an operation dubbed “Rising Lion,” which targeted Iranian nuclear and military facilities, including ballistic missile factories and military command centers. Through these attacks, Israel aims to disrupt Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons, which it considers a direct threat to its national security.
Tehran strongly condemned the attack, deeming it a blatant violation of national sovereignty. It emphasized that the targeted scientists were engaged in peaceful projects aimed at developing nuclear energy for civilian purposes, and asserted that these attacks would not deter it from continuing its nuclear program.
Analysts predict that this strike could escalate tensions between Iran and Israel, potentially opening a new front in the regional confrontation. It may also negatively impact international efforts to revive the Iranian nuclear agreement, which has faced significant challenges in recent years.
