- 12 January 2010
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- 9 Comments
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- Events in Iran, Iran Election 2009, Israel, Nuclear file
Bomb Kills Nuclear Scientist in Iran
12 January 2010 Posted By Nayda Lakelieh
The LA Times reports that Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, one of Iran’s top nuclear scientists was killed on his way to work this week. Adding ambiguity to the death, officials offer various explanations for the explosion. Some state that a bomb was fixed onto a motorcycle near his car while others report that the explosives were in a nearby trash bin, detonated by remote control.
Various sources report that Ali-Mohammadi was an outspoken supporter for Mir-Hossein Mousavi. However, Iranian officials are quick to blame the West and Israel for the assassination, as a reactionary measure to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability.
State television described Ali-Mohammadi as a “revolutionary university professor martyred in a terrorist operation by counterrevolutionary agents affiliated” with the West.
According to one nuclear physics student who studied under Ali-Mohammadi, he was killed for his support for the student movement. Another student believes that Ali-Mohammadi had cut ties with the Revolutionary Guard years ago. No suspects have yet to be arrested.
UPDATE
Dr. Ali-Mohammadi’s field of specialization is now being disputed; Tehran University’s website lists Ali-Mohammadi as being a professor of Elementary Particle Physics. The New York Times also reports that two Iranian academics spoke out against claims that Dr. Ali-Mohammadi was a nuclear physicist. In fact, Ali Shirzadian, a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Agency affirmed that Ali-Mohammadi has no association with the agency in charge of Iran’s nuclear program.
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9 Responses to “Bomb Kills Nuclear Scientist in Iran”
IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY – PRESIDENTIAL BEHAVIOUR CONTRAPRODUCTIVE
»State television described Ali-Mohammadi as a “revolutionary university professor martyred in a terrorist operation by counterrevolutionary agents affiliated” with the West.«
(quote from: The LATimes “Iranian officials blame West for bombing that killed top scientist” – January 12, 2010)
Completely new seems to be the assumption and allegation that the main topic of Iranian foreign policy, »Iran as a nuclear power«, has been and is controversially discussed in Iran. Foreign policy is one important area where there seem to be no discrepancies of opinion whatsoever between presidential, government-official views and the take of »green« movement for more democracy on that issue.
[Is the »green« movement for more democracy not willingly and readily represented by today's Iranian power elite as an anti-revolutionary terrorist, foreign-steered and foreign-incited personified manifestation of Satan ?]
Though the fundamentals of Iranian foreign policy and Iranian long-term interests represent a constant, undisputed and unquestioned within Iran’s political landscape,
current public presidential demeanour abroad however is felt to be extremely embarrassing, due to the President’s somehow bigmouthed and provocatively simplistic approach.
correction – apologies
“…the fundamentals of Iranian foreign policy and Iranian long-term interests represent a constant, undisputed and unquestioned area within Iran’s political landscape…”
Iranian politics aside- both domestic and foreign- a sad day for the scientific community.
Perhaps it my Iranian blood that makes me prone to conspiracy theories, but given that the current Iranian government has often gained legitimacy through promoting hatred of other countries (specifically the US and Israel), it would be no surprise to me if the Iranian government assassinated Ali-Mohammadi to deflect attention from its own brutal oppression. Ali-Mohammadi was a scientist that was sympathetic to the opposition. Thus by killing him and blaming the US and Israel, they could foolishly be hoping to unite the Iranian people (both pro- and anti-establishment) against their favorite villains, while at the same time killing someone who supports the opposition. Two birds with one stone…
I would be more surprised if the US and Israel had anything to do with this. That is not to say that those countries, and Israel in particular, has not (and does not) illegally assassinate people they do not agree with. It’s just that they are typically much smarter about it.
Iran’s government, unfortunately, is the worst of everything- unintelligent, uncultured and still ruthless. Iran today is something akin to if the late Jerry Falwell’s and Gresham Barrett’s of the US ran every branch of the government. Furthermore (and also consequently), Iran’s government is ruthless to its own people.
A sense of detachment from bondage for the scientific community, actually. Pan Iranian stragglers may want to renounce any and all nuclear ambition, privately and in the confines of their independent thought. Being on a State department watchlist is not something to be flattered by. You can hang on to your ‘prince’ and his STDs, but causation of consequence is purely coincidental.
“Iran’s government, unfortunately, is the worst of everything- unintelligent, uncultured and still ruthless.”
That statement is likely – though unfortunately – to be true,
but –
what has forced the world to view Iran with deep and utter respect and
what has inspired deep and profound reverence towards Iran globally
is the “green” movement for more democracy !
@Publicola:
You are very right. I feel a great deal of pride, as an Iranian, when I see the courage and intelligence of the green movement. I must admit though as an Iranian living in America, I would consider it fair for someone to claim that I do not deserve to feel any pride, since I’m not putting my life on the line.
The ripples of the green movement have been extremely positive. From the China to the US and Israel, good people of the world are truly admiring and feeling inspired by the struggle of Iranians for human rights and basic freedoms. While some fraction of those that claim to support the green movement that have ulterior motives, many people from around the world are genuinely hopeful, concerned and inspired by the Iranian people. This is great to see, especially from countries like the US and Israel whose governments’ have at times vilified Iran (and been vilified by Iran’s government). The potential for this movement goes far beyond Iran.
ad Iranian-American
“I feel a great deal of pride, as an Iranian, when I see
the courage and INTELLIGENCE [!!!] of the green movement.”
“people of the world are truly admiring and feeling inspired by the struggle of Iranians for human rights and basic freedoms”
“many people from around the world are genuinely hopeful, concerned and inspired by the Iranian people”
Nothing could be nearer the truth, indeed ! – and thank you for your postings that I often feel compelled to agree with
Publicola
[writing from/living in Germany]
relevant source – informative details:
http://homylafayette.blogspot.com/2010/01/tehran-university-professor-massoud.html
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – »Tehran University professor Massoud Alimohammadi assassinated: fact and fiction«