Some are centrifuge experts, some are reactor designers… who are the 6 Iranian nuclear scientists killed in the Israeli attack?

These are the 6 killed scientists (left) Mohammad Mehdi Tahreenchi and Fereydoon Abbasi. Official photos of other scientists are not available. (File photo: AP/Getty

Six Iranian nuclear scientists – Abdul Hamid Minouchar, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Sayed Amirhosen Fekkahi, Motlabizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Taheretchi and Fereydoon Abbasi – were killed in the Israeli attack. They were experts on Natanz and the nuclear program. Their death has pushed Iran’s nuclear dream back by 1-2 years.

In the Israeli attack, Iran’s Natanz nuclear plant and other military bases were targeted, in which at least six prominent nuclear scientists were killed. The death of these scientists has given a severe blow to Iran’s nuclear program. The names of these scientists are – Abdul Hamid Minouchar, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Sayyed Amirhosen Fekhahi, Motallabizadeh, Mohammad Mehdi Tahrenchi and Fereydoon Abbasi. Let us know about them.

Israel attacked several places in Natanz and Tehran on 13 June 2025, targeting military bases and nuclear facilities. Many senior officials and scientists were killed in this attack, including these six nuclear scientists. Iran has termed it a “terrorist attack”. It has threatened to take revenge.

Residents watch a damaged apartment in Tehran, Iran, early Friday, June 13, 2025. Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday, with explosions booming across Tehran-AP- Photo-by-Vahid Salemi

Iranian nuclear scientists killed

1. Abdulhamid Minouchehr

Role: Abdulhamid Minouchehr was a professor of nuclear physics at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. He was an expert in the uranium enrichment process. He contributed to the development of centrifuge technology at the Natanz plant.

Significance: His research helped Iran enrich uranium up to 20% purity, which was the basis for nuclear energy and potential weapons.

Specialty: He was an expert in reactor design and nuclear fuel production.

2. Ahmadreza Zolfaghari

Role: Ahmadreza was also a professor of nuclear engineering at Shahid Beheshti University. He was working on the maintenance and upgrade of centrifuges at the Natanz and Fordo plants.

Significance: His work doubled Iran’s centrifuge capacity, increasing the speed of enrichment.

Specialty: He was involved in the design of advanced centrifuges (IR-8), which can enrich uranium up to 60% purity.

3. Seyed Amirhossein Feqhi

Role: Seyed Amirhossein also taught at Shahid Beheshti University. He did research on the design of nuclear reactors.
Importance: He contributed to the development of the Arak heavy water reactor, which could be used for plutonium production.
Specialty: His expertise was in reactor safety and nuclear fuel cycle.

4. Motlabizadeh

Role: Motlabizadeh was a senior engineer at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). He was involved in nuclear weapons research related to missile technology.

Significance: He worked in the development of the trigger mechanism required for nuclear weapons, which brought Iran to the “threshold” position (the verge of weaponization).

Specialty: He was an expert in combining missile and nuclear technology.

5. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi
   

Role: Mohammad Mehdi Tahrenchi was the president of Islamic Azad University. He held a PhD in physics. He played an important role in linking nuclear research with education.
Importance: He trained young scientists. Helped strengthen Iran’s nuclear program technically.
Specialty: He was interested in the thermal design of nuclear reactors.

6. Fereydoun Abbasi

The head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Fereydoun Abbasi Davani speaks on June 20, 2011 during the opening ceremony of a five-day ministerial conference on nuclear safety, convened by the IAEA in Vienna. The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog Yukiya Amano warned on June 20 that confidence in atomic energy had been deeply shaken by the Fukushima disaster as he began a conference to debate the lessons of the crisis in Japan. AFP PHOTO – DIETER NAGL -Photo- by- DIETER NAGL- AFP.

Role: Fereydoon Abbasi was the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). He was a professor at Shahid Beheshti University.

Importance: He was considered the “architect” of Iran’s nuclear program. He survived a bomb attack in 2010, but this time he lost his life.

Specialty: He led uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons research. The United Nations had banned him for weapons development.

Effect of the death of these scientists

The death of these six scientists has caused serious damage to Iran’s nuclear program. Experts believe that

uranium enrichment and reactor design may be delayed.

The lack of experts involved in nuclear weapons development may weaken Iran’s “threshold” position.

It will take time to train new scientists, which may push Iran back 1-2 years.

Iran’s reaction

Iran has termed this attack as “nuclear terrorism”. It has held Israel and America responsible. It has complained to the United Nations and has talked about taking revenge. However, Iran failed to escape losses due to weakness in air defense. The death of these 6 scientists has dealt a blow to Iran’s nuclear dreams. Their expertise and leadership had led Iran towards becoming a nuclear power. In the coming times, Iran’s response and Israel’s next steps will determine the future of this region.