Yousef Sobouti (Persian: یوسف ثبوتی, born 23 August 1932 in Zanjan, Iran) is a contemporary Iranian astrophysicist, theoretical physicist.

He finished his doctoral thesis on Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Chicago under the supervision of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar in 1963.

Sobouti made significant contributions to the education of physics and basic sciences in Iran.

He remained director until Aug 2010 when he was dismissed by the cabinet Minister of Science, Research and Technology.

Many academics and students as well as many distinguished individuals in the city of Zanjan reflected their disappointment with the ministry on this decision.