Senior Iranian nuclear scientist and top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer Mohammad Reza Sedighi Saber was killed in an Israeli airstrike on northern Tehran, Iranian media confirmed on Tuesday. The strike took place just hours before Iran and Israel accepted a ceasefire proposal mediated by US President Donald Trump, bringing a temporary halt to a 12-day military conflict.
Saber, a key figure in Iran’s nuclear weapons research program, was reportedly targeted in a precision strike that also hit infrastructure near the Fordow uranium enrichment facility and Evin Prison — a site infamous for detaining political prisoners and dissidents. The airstrike has drawn strong reactions from within Iran, where government officials described the act as a deliberate provocation intended to derail peace efforts.
The attack was part of a broader Israeli operation that unfolded shortly before the ceasefire was announced. In retaliation, Iran launched a wave of missiles toward Israeli cities and targeted the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts a major US military presence. The strikes intensified already heightened tensions, though no casualties were reported at the US facility.
Despite the ceasefire officially going into effect, the situation remains volatile. Military analysts warn that such high-profile assassinations could lead to renewed hostilities or undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region.
As both sides assess their strategic positions, the international community remains watchful of further developments, concerned that this fragile ceasefire could unravel under the weight of recent escalations.
