Science Under Fire: The Assassination of Iran’s Brightest AI Minds
How the targeted killing of two leading Iranian AI scientists reveals a broader campaign against technological independence
In the quiet neighbourhoods of northeastern Tehran, the echoes of a devastating airstrike on June 13, 2025, still linger. On that day, Israeli warplanes bombed a residential block, killing dozens of civilians. Among the victims were two of Iran’s most promising young scientists: Dr. Majid TajenJari and Dr. Mohammad Reza Zakarian, both pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence.
These two men embodied a new generation of Iranian innovators, committed to advancing their country through science and technology. Despite lucrative opportunities abroad, both TajenJari and Zakarian chose to remain in Iran, dedicating their talents to national progress. Their lives—and those of their families—were cut short in their own homes, a loss that has left a deep scar on the Iranian scientific community.
A Life of Purpose
The tragedy was deeply personal for Zakarian’s family. His father, Mohammad Hossein Zakarian, searched the rubble for his grandchildren, five-year-old Fatemeh and seven-month-old Zahra, both killed alongside their parents. Zakarian, who had earned degrees from top Iranian universities, had repeatedly turned down offers from abroad, choosing instead to serve his homeland. His father described his son’s death not as an accident of war, but as a deliberate assassination—one that targeted not just a scientist, but a symbol of national progress.
Championing an AI Renaissance
Dr. Majid TajenJari, 35, hailed from the village of Tajen Jar in northern Iran. A polymath and visionary, he led the Artificial Intelligence Commission at the Youth Chamber of Commerce of Iran and was at the forefront of the country’s AI revolution. His academic achievements included gold medals at international invention competitions and a global patent. But TajenJari’s true legacy was his commitment to education: he co-founded a center to teach children and teenagers AI and programming, believing that progress began at a young age. His inventions, from facial recognition to industrial automation, were already making an impact in Iranian society.
A Broader Campaign
The assassinations of Zakarian and TajenJari are part of a wider strategy by Israel to undermine Iran’s scientific and technological advancement. Targeted killings, sabotage, and cyberattacks have long been tools in this covert campaign. For Iran, these attacks are not just acts of aggression—they are attempts to halt the country’s march toward technological independence.
Yet, as Zakarian’s father said,
“They think by killing our scientists, they can halt our progress. But others will rise. The path doesn’t end here.”
This sentiment resonates across Iranian society, where such tragedies are met with renewed determination to continue the work of those lost.
The Road Ahead
The deaths of Dr. TajenJari and Dr. Zakarian, along with their families, have galvanised a sense of purpose among Iranian scientists and citizens alike. Their legacy is not only in their scientific achievements but in the resolve they have inspired. Iran’s scientific community remains committed to advancing knowledge and innovation, undeterred by acts of violence.
As the nation mourns, it also looks forward, determined that the pursuit of knowledge—and the memory of its brightest minds—will not be extinguished by aggression.
Source: PressTV