How Mossad Hunted Irans’ Top Nuclear Brain in His Favorite Restaurant

In 1978, Mossad identified Dr. Farid Hosseinian as the brilliant and irreplaceable scientist rapidly advancing the Shah’s secret nuclear weapons program. Eliminating him became a priority, despite the diplomatic risk of operating in allied Iran. Mossad analyst discovered his key vulnerability: a predictable habit of dining at exclusive French restaurants in northern Tehran.
The operation, Operation Saffron, required meticulous infiltration. Mossad deployed an operative known as The Alchemist and recruited a disgruntled Iranian kitchen assistant, Mohammed Rezaei, who believed he was striking a blow against the Shah’s regime for justice. The target was the French restaurant La Réserve, where Hosseinian dined every Friday evening.
The assassination was executed when Rezaei, unaware of his true employer (Mossad) or the victim’s true purpose, poured a specialized, undetectable toxin into Hosseinian’s favorite dish: rack of lamb. Hosseinian died less than 48 hours later from symptoms mimicking a heart attack. His elimination caused significant disruption to Iran’s nuclear program, which was then entirely dismantled by the subsequent 1979 Revolution.
———————
DISCLAIMER: Some of our videos contain elements of fiction or have been intentionally dramatized to create a compelling and engaging story. They are inspired by real events, historical patterns, unofficial accounts, rumors, or legendary operations whose accuracy cannot be fully verified. We do not claim that these events unfolded exactly as portrayed, nor do we take responsibility for interpretations drawn from them.