Iranian Nuke Expert Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan Killed in Car Bombing


Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a man said to be a “nuke expert” working at Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment plant, was killed Wednesday in a car bomb attack officials blamed on Israel.

According to a report by ABC News, Roshan, 32, was inside his Iranian-assembled Peugeot 405 car together with one other person when the bomb detonated near Gol Nabi Street in north Tehran. Officials said two unidentified riders on a motorcycle attached the magnetic bomb to the vehicle carrying Roshan and the other person.

Following Roshan’s death, Iranian government blamed the attack on Israel and the United States. Calling the incident a terrorist attack, Iran pointed out that it bore a strong resemblance to earlier killings of scientists working on the Iranian nuclear program.

On January 12, 2010, a similar bombing attack killed Tehran University professor Masoud Ali Mohammadi, a senior physics professor. He was killed when a bomb-rigged motorcycle exploded near his car as he was about to leave for work.

While denying any links to the Roshan assassination, the United States (along with its allies) has stepped up sanctions to try to halt uranium enrichment, a key element of the nuclear program that the West suspects is aimed at producing atomic weapons. While uranium enriched to low levels can be used as nuclear fuel, at higher levels it can be used as material for a nuclear warhead.

Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and added that the recent bombings would not stop the country from advancing its nuclear activities.

Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, Israel’s military chief of staff, said Tuesday this is a critical year for Iran, the London Daily Mail reported.

“For Iran, 2012 is a critical year in combining the continuation of its nuclearization, internal changes in the Iranian leadership, continuing and growing pressure from the international community and things which take place in an unnatural manner,” he said.

Here is a news clip on the Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan bombing:

via ABC News

Share this article: Iranian Nuke Expert Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan Killed in Car Bombing
More from Inquisitr