The wife of Martyr Masoud Ali-Mohammadi stated that the assassination of scientists is a clear violation of Iran’s right to development and that terrorism is a major obstacle to the country’s scientific progress.
Mansoureh Karami, wife of the assassinated nuclear physicist Masoud Ali-Mohammadi, spoke at the international conference titled "The Draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism: 25 Years On", held at Allameh Tabataba’i University. In her address on the role of terrorism in national development, she highlighted her husband’s lifelong dedication to advancing his country and said:
“My husband was always devoted to the development and progress of his homeland. He deeply loved his people. I remember him saying, ‘Our people deserve to live better—just like people in any other part of the world. We can make that change.’”
She continued:
“But on a cold winter morning in 2010, all of my husband’s hopes and dreams—and those of our children—were shattered. Israel, with the help of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), assassinated him. In an instant, my love, my dreams, and my entire life were taken from me before my very eyes. This painful story was not mine alone—it was repeated with other scientists like Dr. Majid Shahriari, Dr. Dariush Rezaeinejad, and Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. It has harmed not just a few individuals, but the whole nation, which has endured over 23,000 victims of terrorism.”
Mrs. Karami emphasized the damaging effects of these assassinations on Iran’s right to development:
“The systematic targeting of Iranian scientists—especially by Mossad and the terrorist group MEK—is a blatant violation of Iran’s right to development. These assassinations, ongoing since 2010, are deliberate efforts to hinder the nation’s progress in science and technology.”
She added:
“The right to development is a recognized principle of international law, established in the 1986 United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development. It guarantees that nations can pursue progress without foreign interference.”
Karami went on to say:
“The assassination of Iranian scientists is a form of terrorism aimed at undermining the country’s scientific independence. The consequences include halted research projects, the loss of decades of expert knowledge, fear and intimidation among young scientists, accelerated brain drain, and technological setbacks in key strategic fields.”
In conclusion, she stressed the need for international accountability and collective action:
“The international community must condemn these assassinations and hold the perpetrators accountable. Unjust scientific sanctions against Iran must also end. Despite all the pressure, Iran’s progress proves that terrorism and sanctions cannot stop development. The right to development is non-negotiable, and the world must take a stand against scientific colonialism.”