Iran sends surviving nuclear scientists into hiding

The Telegraph ^ | 09 August 2025 8:00am BST | Melanie Swan and Paul Nuki

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Iran has sent its surviving nuclear scientists into deep hiding after Israel killed more than 30 researchers, The Telegraph can reveal.

Most are no longer living in their homes or teaching at universities, and have been moved to secure locations in Tehran or northern coastal cities, where they live in villas with their families, a senior Iranian official said.

The Telegraph has been shown the names of more than 15 of these surviving scientists, on a list of about 100 held by Israel, whom the Israelis say must now decide whether to continue their work and risk further strikes or find a new career.

“Most of them are no longer living in their houses – they are either moved to safe houses in Tehran or to the north,” the Iranian official said.

He added: “Those who were teaching at universities are replaced with people who have no connection with the nuclear programme.”

The nuclear scientists killed by Israel

Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi

Physicist professor and president of the Islamic Azad University, who was killed alongside his wife and bodyguards during Israeli strikes on Tehran in June

Fereydoun Abbasi

Nuclear engineer and member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who was previously the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation. He was wounded during an assassination attempt in 2010 before being killed by Israeli strikes

Amir Hossein Feqhi

Former vice-president of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation and a researcher at Shahid Beheshti University at the time of his death

Abdolhamid Minouchehr

Served as head of the nuclear engineering faculty at Shahid Beheshti University, with a specialisation in nuclear reactors and fuel design. He was killed during Israeli strikes on Tehran in June

Continued...

[Libloather]

Good shootin’.

[Seruzawa]

There can be no more stark demonstration of the competence level of muslims compared to Israel. There is an abyss between.

[Mark17]

Iran has sent its surviving nuclear scientists into deep hiding after Israel killed more than 30 researchers, The Telegraph can reveal.

Mossad will find them too.

[Jonty30]

It is possible that some Iranian scientists might be slowing down the progress, just like the German scientists did.

[HereInTheHeartland]

I feel sorry for them bring so isolated .
Some friends would like to send pagers to them to ease the loneliness

[doc maverick]

The Iranian regime is DOA.
Haven’t heard a peep out of them lately and the Ayatoilet is reported to be either sleeping or gorked out on opiates.
Maybe the Ayatoilet will stumble around and fall into the Mahdi’s well.

[Eli Kopter]

I am sure they already know where they are.

[Retain Mike]

This fact about Japan’s atomic bomb program is interesting.

“After the war, interrogators discovered Yoshio Nishina, who in 1940 built Japan’s’ first cyclotron, was given a substantial budget to build an atomic bomb. When the Americans reached Tinian and B-29’s could reach Japan, further efforts were concentrated at huge industrial facilities in Hungnam North Korea. One day after the Nagasaki bomb, Japan exploded what was described as an experimental nuclear device off the coast of Hungnam. Stalin’s forces advanced beyond Hungnam to the 38th parallel and Japanese equipment and scientists vanished inside the Soviet Union. No further information emerged.”

Iran should probably import some scientists from North Korea, Russia, or Pakistan. I can't see any of those countries having a problem persuading (?) compliance.

[ComputerGuy]

This is some serious hardball being played by the Israelis. They are not afraid to reach out and touch someone. And they do it with panache.

[Secret Agent Man]

They know where most are already.

[Secret Agent Man]

Or cell phones. Either or. :)

[Retain Mike]

Here is the source I should have included.

Japan’s Secret War: Japan’s Race Against Time to Build Its Own Atomic Bomb, Robert K Wilcox

[Cold Heart]

Thanks

[HereInTheHeartland]

“Or cell phones. Either or. :)”

I agree.
We don’t want them to feel isolated.
Uncle Moshe cares very much about them

[Mark17]

Most likely, yes. 👍

[VanShuyten]

Gee. They failed to list the nuclear scientists executed by Iran.

[HIDEK6]

… and have been moved to secure locations …

There are no secure locations in Iran.

[HIDEK6]

Iran should probably import some scientists from North Korea, Russia, or Pakistan.

Iran is one step ahead of you.

[rxh4n1]

” just like the German scientists did.”

That was another self-serving myth. Just like the German generals and Albert Speer.