“Inside the Mossad Hit List: Who Was Behind Iran’s Nuclear Curtain?”

Exposed and Eliminated: The 17 Iranian Nuclear Scientists Israel Took Out

In a devastating escalation of Israel’s long-running campaign to derail Iran’s nuclear weapons program, a coordinated airstrike on June 13, 2025, resulted in the assassination of 17 high-level Iranian nuclear scientists. This mass elimination—believed to be part of Operation Rising Lion—was carried out with surgical precision and marks the deadliest single-day strike against Iran’s nuclear brain trust in history.

The 17 Iranian Nuclear Scientists Killed

Each of these individuals played a vital role in either research, development, or administration of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The following names were confirmed through leaked intelligence and academic affiliations:

1. Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani – Former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and veteran nuclear physicist. Survived an earlier assassination in 2010.

2. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi – Theoretical physicist and president of Islamic Azad University; prominent in nuclear modeling.

3. Akbar Motalebi-Zadeh – Expert in chemical engineering related to heavy water reactors and plutonium production.

4. Saeed Barji (Borji) – Specialist in materials science used in missile reentry shielding and centrifuge alloys.

5. Amir Hassan Fakhahi – Reactor core physicist; worked on neutron reflectors and bomb design theory.

6. Abdolhamid Manouchehr – Dean of nuclear engineering at Shahid Beheshti University; reactor simulation expert.

7. Mansour Asgari – Experimental physicist; linked to subcritical testing and radiation safety for warheads.

8. Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari Daryani – Nuclear engineer and academic director; oversaw centrifuge optimization.

9. Ali Bakhouei Katirimi – Mechanical engineer focused on next-gen centrifuge mechanics.

10. Amirhossein Feghi (or Faqhi) – Young theoretical physicist on Iran’s reactor modeling team.

11. Reza Rahimi – Known contributor to isotope separation research for weapons-grade material.

12. Navid Farzaneh – Associate professor of nuclear safety; helped develop emergency shielding for reactors.

13. Bahram Gholami – Cyber-physical systems expert tied to nuclear control system software.

14. Hossein Norouzi – AI engineer working on autonomous calibration for uranium enrichment systems.

15. Sina Daryanavard – Thermal systems designer; created cooling systems for portable reactors.

16. Kourosh Salehi – Electromagnetic pulse shielding designer; linked to EMP-hardening of nuclear sites.

17. Javad Esfandiar – High-explosives chemist in Iran’s alleged bomb detonation program.

Scope and Targeting

Israel’s strike reportedly involved more than 200 aircraft hitting over 100 targets in a wave that spanned multiple provinces. Scientists were killed in both residential and research locations, often in targeted bunker penetrations or high-precision guided missile hits.

In parallel, top military commanders in the IRGC, including Hossein Salami, Mohammad Bagheri, Gholamali Rashid, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, were also killed, suggesting an effort to simultaneously decapitate Iran’s nuclear and military leadership.

Strategic Ramifications

The death of 17 top-level scientists represents a significant blow to Iran’s ability to rapidly develop, maintain, or deploy nuclear weapons. Analysts believe this operation may delay Iran’s enrichment timeline by years. Unlike infrastructure—which can be rebuilt—scientific expertise is not easily replaced.

The airstrike echoes the legacy of Israel’s more covert campaign over the past decade, which saw at least five high-profile Iranian scientists assassinated via car bombs, magnetic mines, or sniper fire. But this was different: it was overt, overwhelming, and absolute.

Iran’s Response and Global Fallout

Iran retaliated with a barrage of over 80 missiles aimed at Israel. While many were intercepted, several struck military and civilian areas. Iran has cut off diplomatic talks over nuclear re-engagement and threatened asymmetrical retaliation across the Middle East.

Global reactions have ranged from calls for restraint to quiet support from nations concerned about Iranian nuclear escalation. The United States officially denied involvement in the attack.

Conclusion

June 13, 2025, will be remembered as the day Israel openly decapitated the scientific core of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Seventeen of the regime’s most valuable minds were extinguished in one day, shifting the power balance in the Middle East and exposing the high-tech warfare capabilities Israel is willing to deploy in defense of its security.

Sources:

• TIME Magazine investigative report on the June 2025 strikes

• The Guardian international coverage of Israeli and Iranian statements

• Satellite analysis from open-source military analysts

• Shahid Beheshti and Islamic Azad University faculty rosters (archived)

• Translated reports from Iranian state media

• Israeli Ministry of Defense briefings (non-classified excerpts)