Remembering Majid Shahriari, Iran’s nuclear science pioneer – 15 years since martyrdom

By Ivan Kesic

Fifteen years after his martyrdom, the legacy of Professor Majid Shahriari endures, not merely as the memory of a scientist taken by terrorism, but as a lasting testament to the rare convergence of extraordinary scientific talent, steadfast national commitment, and profound spiritual depth.

A figure of exceptional importance in Iran’s scientific landscape, Shahriari was a fully homegrown intellect who rose from modest beginnings in Zanjan province to the forefront of nuclear engineering, achieving breakthroughs that strengthened his nation’s technological independence.

He was a man who was at once a world-class academic, a key defender of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, a devoted family man, and a humble servant of his faith. His assassination on November 29, 2010, was intended to halt progress, but instead solidified a legacy defined by resilience.

The life of Martyr Shahriari is the story of a man who devoted his knowledge to the service of his homeland, embodying a spirit his adversaries neither understood nor could extinguish.

Making of a homegrown genius

Shahriari’s entire academic and professional journey was deeply rooted in his homeland, making him a unique symbol of Iran’s indigenous scientific prowess.

Born in Zanjan in 1966, he completed every stage of his education within Iran – from learning the alphabet to mastering the complex calculations involved in nuclear reactor engineering.

His academic record was outstanding: He earned a bachelor’s degree in Electronics from Amirkabir University, graduating second in his class, followed by a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, where he ranked first.

He then pursued his Ph.D. at Amirkabir University through a prestigious program for exceptional students, becoming a wholly Iranian-trained scientist, educated exclusively by Iranian mentors.

His rise in academia was swift and remarkable. Starting as a faculty member at Amirkabir University, he later joined Shahid Beheshti University and achieved the rank of full professor by 2009, the shortest time possible for such a promotion.

His record was equally formidable – 30 scientific articles, 34 conference presentations, supervision of 55 theses, and leadership of numerous research projects – all delivered alongside a near-perfect teaching evaluation.

Stuxnet crisis and a national scientific mobilization

The summer of 2010 introduced the world to Stuxnet, a malicious computer worm later revealed as a joint American-Israeli cyber-weapon aimed at sabotaging Iran’s nuclear facilities.

As the malware infiltrated critical industrial systems, Iranian authorities quickly assembled a team of top researchers and engineers to counter the threat.

Having just been promoted to full professor, Shahriari became a central figure in this high-stakes technological battle.

For two to three months, he and his colleagues worked tirelessly to dissect the sophisticated code, which was traced back to foreign intelligence agencies.

Their collective efforts culminated in a significant victory for national security: a major portion of Iran’s industrial systems was successfully purged of the destructive virus.

This breakthrough showed that Iran’s scientific defense rested not on imported expertise but on the intellectual courage and capability of its own scholars, with Shahriari standing as a key pillar.

Calculated breakthrough: 20% enrichment challenge

One of the most revealing anecdotes of Shahriari’s extraordinary scientific talent comes from Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

When the country aimed to achieve 20 percent uranium enrichment, a complex and critical set of calculations threatened to derail the entire project.

Dr. Salehi recalls his astonishment when Shahriari calmly and confidently volunteered to take on the humongous task himself.

This was remarkable, as Shahriari had never trained abroad and was addressing a problem for which Iran had no established internal expertise.

With quiet determination, he single-handedly completed the monumental calculations.

In a profound act of humility, Shahriari refused any payment or recognition for his vital contribution, embodying a spirit where scientific achievement was its own reward and serving the nation was the ultimate motivation.

Professor as mentor and moral compass

As an educator, Shahriari went beyond simply imparting knowledge. He regarded his students as a sacred trust. He often said, “Their parents have entrusted them to us,” a principle that shaped every interaction.

He balanced strict academic discipline with deep compassion, holding high standards while genuinely caring for his students’ personal well-being.

For instance, he provided financial support to a student in need for his wedding, asking only that it be repaid when possible.

He also fought tirelessly to prevent the dismissal of another student, securing his reinstatement and later celebrating together the successful defense of that student’s thesis, a moment cherished by the grateful parents.

Shahriari showed no professional jealousy, openly sharing his hard-earned knowledge with others.

After his martyrdom, when concerns arose about continuing his specialized work, his students assured Dr. Salehi that Shahriari had proactively conducted workshops, training 10 to 15 individuals in the complex techniques he had mastered, ensuring his legacy would endure.

Foundation of faith and principle

Shahriari’s scientific brilliance was deeply intertwined with an unshakeable Islamic faith that profoundly shaped his character and daily conduct.

His wife and friends recall his unwavering commitment to religious duties, including the night prayer, and his habit of reciting the Holy Qur’an in a melodious voice.

Gossip was strictly forbidden in his presence; if he could not halt it, he would quietly remove himself from the situation.

He humbly attributed all his achievements to God – a humility vividly expressed when, at a celebration for his promotion to full professor, he opened his speech with the prayer: “How many ugly characteristics I have, which You (God) have covered.”

His devotion extended to diligently observing religious boundaries; he avoided social gatherings where he felt religious prohibitions might be broken, reflecting a harmony between his private faith and public actions.

An anchor of family and the simplicity of life

Despite the immense demands of his professional life, Shahriari placed his family at the center of his world.

He shared a deeply respectful and loving relationship with his parents, never hesitating to kiss his mother’s hands and feet, and always answering her calls, even during lectures.

With his wife, Dr. Behjat Ghasemi, and their two children, Mohsen and Zahra, he was a devoted and present father, striving to be a close friend to his children despite his grueling schedule.

His wife recalls his habit of bringing gifts, even if just a single flower, and his frequent apologies for working late. Their life together was marked by simplicity, beginning with a wedding ceremony held in the self-service cafeteria of Amirkabir University.

She describes him as a man of immense kindness, purity, and spirituality, meticulous in ensuring that not a single “non-halal morsel” entered their home.

Final journey and an enduring legacy

On the morning of November 29, 2010, just eight days before his 45th birthday, Shahriari was traveling with his wife on a Tehran highway when a motorcycle pulled alongside their car, attaching a magnetic bomb to the door.

In the moments before the explosion, he was engaged in spiritual reflection, listening to a Qur’anic commentary.

His wife, who survived the blast, witnessed the brutal assassination—a scene she likened to the tragedies of Karbala.

This terrorist act by the agents of the Israeli Mossad and its intelligence allies was a calculated attempt to cripple Iran’s scientific progress.

Yet, as his wife later affirmed, Majid’s path in life left no other logical end than martyrdom. His life was a coherent journey, a pursuit of knowledge in service to faith and nation.

Top cleric Ayatollah Javadi Amoli eulogized him, saying the secret of his success lay in realizing the truth of science and transcending it toward the divine, a journey that made him strong enough to “win the battle against death.”

Fifteen years on, the memory of Professor Shahriari stands not as a monument to loss but as an enduring source of inspiration – a reminder that the most formidable barriers are not made of bricks or code, but of conviction, knowledge, and unwavering love for one’s homeland.

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