Ardeshir Hosseinpour
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ardeshir Hosseinpour was an Iran
ian junior scientist, assistant professor, and authority on electromagnetism
. He was also involved in the Iranian nuclear program. Hosseinpour died mysteriously in early 2007 during his nuclear work at Isfahan.
degree in electrical engineering
and a Ph.D.
degree in electrical physics from Shiraz University
in 2002. He was an assistant materials science professor of Shiraz University
, and also taught at the Malek Ashtar University of Technology in Isfahan.
In 2005, he co-founded and continued his research at the Nuclear Technology Center of Isfahan. He continued his research there until his death on January 15, 2007.
. American Radio Farda
(broadcasting in Persian) originally reported that he died due to "gassing".
The US private intelligence company Stratfor
released a report on 2 February 2007 which claimed that "Hosseinpour was in fact a Mossad
target" based on "sources close to Israeli intelligence." Stratfor also reported that the cause of death was "radioactive poisoning." The Israeli newspaper Haaretz
reported that a "website of expatriate Iranian communists" had claimed that several other scientists were killed or injured in the same incident, and treated in nearby hospitals.
Stratfor added that:
Despite these reports, the "semi-official" Fars News Agency
reported that an unnamed informed source in Tehran
told them that Hosseinpour was not involved in the nuclear facility at Isfahan, and that he "suffocated by fumes from a faulty gas fire in sleep." The report of an assassination was also denied by Gholamreza Aghazadeh, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
, who said that Iranian nuclear experts "are sound and safe." Mossad sources, including Meir Amit
, the former head of the agency, also told the San Francisco Chronicle
that the claim of assassination is "baseless" and "goes against all known modus operandi of the agency."
On February 14, Stratfor again reported on the Hosseinpour death, warning that a reprisal attack by Iran against Israeli or Jewish targets around the world would come four to six weeks later if historical patterns hold true.
According to an investigative work by an Italian journalist, Ardeshir Hosseinpour sympathised with Khatami
, and may have been killed because he wanted to defect
.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian junior scientist, assistant professor, and authority on electromagnetism
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. The other three are the strong interaction, the weak interaction and gravitation...
. He was also involved in the Iranian nuclear program. Hosseinpour died mysteriously in early 2007 during his nuclear work at Isfahan.
Career
Dr. Hosseinpour held a B.S.Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in electrical physics from Shiraz University
Shiraz University
Shiraz University , formerly known as Pahlavi University, is a public university located in Shiraz, Iran. It is one of the major universities of Iran....
in 2002. He was an assistant materials science professor of Shiraz University
Shiraz University
Shiraz University , formerly known as Pahlavi University, is a public university located in Shiraz, Iran. It is one of the major universities of Iran....
, and also taught at the Malek Ashtar University of Technology in Isfahan.
In 2005, he co-founded and continued his research at the Nuclear Technology Center of Isfahan. He continued his research there until his death on January 15, 2007.
Cause of death
There are conflicting reports as to the cause of Hosseinpour's death. His death was not reported until six days after the event, first by the Al-Quds daily and the Iranian Students' News AgencyIranian Students' News Agency
The Iranian Students News Agency is a news organization run by Iranian university students. Established on November 4, 1999 in order to report on news from Iranian universities it now covers a variety of national and international topics. Editors and correspondents are themselves students in a...
. American Radio Farda
Radio Farda
Radio Farda is the Iranian Branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's broadcast services. It broadcasts 24 hours a day in the Persian language from its headquarters Prague, Czech Republic. Radio Farda first aired December 2002. Radio Farda broadcasts political, cultural, social, and art news...
(broadcasting in Persian) originally reported that he died due to "gassing".
The US private intelligence company Stratfor
Stratfor
Strategic Forecasting, Inc., more commonly known as STRATFOR, is a global intelligence company founded in 1996 in Austin, Texas by George Friedman who is the founder, chief intelligence officer, and CEO of the company...
released a report on 2 February 2007 which claimed that "Hosseinpour was in fact a Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
target" based on "sources close to Israeli intelligence." Stratfor also reported that the cause of death was "radioactive poisoning." The Israeli newspaper Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
reported that a "website of expatriate Iranian communists" had claimed that several other scientists were killed or injured in the same incident, and treated in nearby hospitals.
Stratfor added that:
"Decapitating a hostile nuclear program by taking out key human assets is a tactic that has proven its effectiveness over the years, particularly in the case of Iraq. In the months leading up to the 1981 Israeli airstrikeOperation OperaOperation Babylon was a surprise Israeli air strike carried out on June 7, 1981, that destroyed a nuclear reactor under construction 17 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, Iraq....
on Iraq's Osirak reactor -- which was believed to be on the verge of producing plutonium for a weapons program -- at least three Iraqi nuclear scientists died under mysterious circumstances."
Despite these reports, the "semi-official" Fars News Agency
Fars News Agency
Fars News Agency is a news agency in Iran. While it describes itself as "Iran's leading independent news agency", news organizations such as CNN and Reuters describe it as a "semi-official" news agency with ties to the government...
reported that an unnamed informed source in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
told them that Hosseinpour was not involved in the nuclear facility at Isfahan, and that he "suffocated by fumes from a faulty gas fire in sleep." The report of an assassination was also denied by Gholamreza Aghazadeh, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is the main official body responsible for implementing regulations and operating nuclear energy installations in Iran....
, who said that Iranian nuclear experts "are sound and safe." Mossad sources, including Meir Amit
Meir Amit
Meir Amit was an Israeli politician and general. He served as Director of the Mossad from 1963 to 1968 before entering politics and holding two ministerial positions.-Biography:...
, the former head of the agency, also told the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
that the claim of assassination is "baseless" and "goes against all known modus operandi of the agency."
On February 14, Stratfor again reported on the Hosseinpour death, warning that a reprisal attack by Iran against Israeli or Jewish targets around the world would come four to six weeks later if historical patterns hold true.
According to an investigative work by an Italian journalist, Ardeshir Hosseinpour sympathised with Khatami
Khatami
-Politicians:* Mohammad Khatami , Iranian reformist President, former President of Iran * Mohammad Reza Khatami , Iranian reformist politician, Vice Speaker of Iranian Parliament and brother of Mohammad Khatami...
, and may have been killed because he wanted to defect
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
.
Awards
- Ranked 2nd, Applied research section, Khwarazmi International FestivalKhwarizmi International AwardThe Khwarizmi International Award is given annually by the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in research, innovation and invention, in fields related to science and technology....
. - Ranked 1st, Khwarazmi International Festival. (2006)