Reza Mozaffari Nia

Reza Mozaffari Nia (, also spelled Reza Mozaffarinia or Reza Mozafarnia; 24 August 1959 – 28 February 2026) was an Iranian military official who served as director of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), an entity within Iran's Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) associated with research into sensitive technologies. He previously held positions as deputy defence minister and dean of Malek-Ashtar University of Technology (MUT). Mozaffari-Nia was sanctioned by the United States for his alleged involvement in Iran's missile and weapons of mass destruction programmes. He was killed in the 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran.

Early life and education Mozaffari Nia was born in 1959 in Isfahan, Iran.

Career Mozaffari-Nia served as deputy defence minister in Iran's MODAFL and as dean of Malek-Ashtar University of Technology (MUT), a university affiliated with the ministry. In September 2021, he was appointed director of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), succeeding Mahdi Farahi. The SPND has been described by the United States as the successor to Iran's pre-2004 nuclear weapons programme, involved in developing technologies with potential applications in nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

In 2013, the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Mozaffari-Nia under Executive Order 13382 for his role in supporting Iran's missile programme and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. State Department updated his designation in 2025, stating that as SPND director, he oversaw efforts to acquire dual-use equipment and advance sensitive technologies potentially applicable to nuclear weapons.

Death Mozaffari-Nia was killed on 28 February 2026 during the 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran. The strikes targeted senior Iranian defence and security figures, and Mozaffari-Nia was identified as a former SPND chairman who had contributed to nuclear weapons development efforts, per Israeli military statements.