Majid Shahriari
Majid Shahriari (ca. 1970 - November 29, 2010)[1], was a quantum physicist who worked with the Iranian Atomic Energy Commission. He specialised in neutron transport, a phenomenon that lies at the heart of nuclear chain reactions in bombs and reactors. According to The Guardian he "had no known links to banned nuclear work"[2]. According to Al Jazeera he was a quantum physicist and was not a political figure at all" and he "was not involved in Iran's nuclear programme".[3]
Some media reports[who?] said he taught at the Supreme National Defense University, which is run by the Iranian Army. Shahriari published dozens of esoteric conference reports and peer-reviewed articles on nuclear research.
On November 29, 2010, unidentified assailants riding motorcycles launched separate bomb attacks, killing Shahriari and injuring nuclear scientist Fereydoon Abbasi, a professor at Shahid Beheshti University where Shahriari also taught. Dr. Abbasi's wife was also hurt.[4] The killers had attached bombs to the professors' cars and detonated them from a distance.[5]
Iranian officials have variously blamed Israel and the United States for assassinating Shahriari. Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, was quoted as saying Western nations "exercise terrorism to liquidate Iran's nuclear scientists."[6]
Israel involvement
He worked along side israeli scientists in SESAME project[7]
Some sources say this was a work by Mossad, the Israeli external intelligence service which has a long history of assassinations abroad.[8] According to some sources, Israel itself has planned to conducting covert operations against Iran, including assassinations.[9]
References
- ^ L.A. Times: "Nuclear scientist killed by bomb in Iran", November 30, 2010.
- ^ The Guardian: Attack on Iranian nuclear scientists prompts hit squad claims.
- ^ Iranian 'nuclear scientist' killed.
- ^ BBC: Iranian nuclear scientist killed in motorbike attack.
- ^ New York Times report of Shahriari's assassination
- ^ George Jahn (25 January 2011). "Iran accuses West of 'nuclear terrorism'". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ sesame.org
- ^ "Is the Mossad Targeting Iran's Nuclear Scientists?". Time. 30 November 2010.
- ^ Sherwell, Philip (16 February 2009). "Israel launches covert war against Iran". The Daily Telegraph. London.