Senior Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated in Gilan Province

A prominent Iranian nuclear scientist, Sayyed Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber, has been assassinated in the city of Ashrafiyeh, located in Iran’s northern Gilan province.

Seddighi Saber served as the head of Iran’s Organization for Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), specifically leading the Shahid Karimi research group, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

The group is known for working on explosive-related technologies, including research and testing applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices.

Iranian media outlets have accused Israel of orchestrating the assassination, though no official claim of responsibility has been made.

Just days before the killing, Seddighi Saber’s 17-year-old son was killed in a strike on their residence in Tehran.

Two months ago, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added Seddighi Saber to its sanctions list, stating he was involved in nuclear weapons development efforts. Several international outlets had also described him as a specialist in “synchronised explosions,” a technique associated with nuclear detonation mechanisms.

By Khagan Isayev