UPI - An Iranian scientist who worked at the country's Isfahan nuclear facility may have been assassinated by Israeli operatives, it was reported Sunday. The U.S.-funded Iranian Radio Farda says Adreshire Hassanpour, 44, died under mysterious circumstances Jan. 15, the Sunday Times of London reported. Intelligence sources said Hassanpour may have been assassinated by Mossad, the Israeli secret service, The Times said.

Rheva Bhalla of the the U.S. intelligence company Stratfor, told The Times that Mossad had targeted the scientist and there was very strong intelligence that he had been assassinated. Hassanpour was a nuclear physicist at the Isfahan nuclear plant that produces gas to enrich uranium for the Natanz nuclear plant. The Natanz plant has been the focus of international concern that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Radio Farda said Hassanpour's death was attributed to gas poisoning.