{"id":90772,"date":"2020-11-28T07:09:51","date_gmt":"2020-11-28T12:09:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/?p=90772"},"modified":"2020-11-28T07:09:51","modified_gmt":"2020-11-28T12:09:51","slug":"auto-draft-343","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/2020\/11\/28\/auto-draft-343\/","title":{"rendered":"Mohsen Fakhrizadeh: Iran blames Israel for killing top scientist"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p><b class=\"css-14iz86j-BoldText e5tfeyi0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-90773 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fakhrizadeh-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fakhrizadeh-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fakhrizadeh-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fakhrizadeh.jpg 600w, https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fakhrizadeh-24x16.jpg 24w, https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fakhrizadeh-36x24.jpg 36w, https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Fakhrizadeh-48x32.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>BBC \u2014 Iran&#8217;s president has blamed Israel for the killing of a top nuclear scientist on Friday, and said it would not slow down the country&#8217;s nuclear programme.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Hassan Rouhani also said Iran would retaliate over Mohsen Fakhrizadeh&#8217;s killing at a time of its choosing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Fakhrizadeh was killed in an ambush on his car by gunmen in the town of Absard, east of the capital Tehran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Israel has not commented, but it has previously accused him of being behind a covert nuclear weapons programme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Fakhrizadeh was Iran&#8217;s most renowned nuclear scientist, who headed the ministry of defence&#8217;s research and innovation organisation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>His killing threatens to escalate tensions over Iran&#8217;s nuclear programme with the US and its close ally Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"unordered-list-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<div class=\"css-1pzprxn-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi3\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/1\/hi\/world\/middle_east\/country_profiles\/790877.stm\">Country profile: Iran<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-middle-east-48201138\">Iran nuclear crisis in 300 words<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i84\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"css-1jlqpzd-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">How has Iran reacted?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>President Rouhani said on Saturday his country would respond &#8220;in due course&#8221; but that Fakhrizadeh&#8217;s killing would not push Iran into making hasty decisions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;Iran&#8217;s enemies should know that the people of Iran and officials are braver than to leave this criminal act unanswered,&#8221; he said in a televised cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;In due time, they will answer for this crime,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>In an earlier statement, the president accused the &#8220;the mercenaries of the oppressive Zionist regime&#8221; &#8211; referring to Israel &#8211; of being behind the attack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"css-1759m9z-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"css-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\"><span class=\"css-1hq4gmv-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/c.files.bbci.co.uk\/DDF1\/production\/_115671865_064537263-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/DDF1\/production\/_115671865_064537263-1.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/DDF1\/production\/_115671865_064537263-1.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/DDF1\/production\/_115671865_064537263-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/DDF1\/production\/_115671865_064537263-1.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/DDF1\/production\/_115671865_064537263-1.jpg 800w\" alt=\"Prominent Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in an undated photo\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/span><span class=\"css-1ecljvk-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c23\"><span class=\"css-178wc68-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">image copyright<\/span>Reuters<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"css-1rnnz6t-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c21\"><span class=\"css-178wc68-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\">image caption<\/span>Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, pictured in an undated photo, was head of the ministry of defence&#8217;s research and innovation organisation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;The assassination of martyr Fakhrizadeh shows our enemies&#8217; despair and the depth of their hatred&#8230; His martyrdom will not slow down our achievements.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also called for the &#8220;punishing&#8221; of the perpetrators of the attack &#8220;and those who commanded it&#8221;, in a tweet on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>His military adviser, Hossein Dehghan, had earlier vowed to &#8220;strike&#8221; the attackers like thunder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>There has been no comment from Israel on the killing. The New York Times quotes three US officials, including two intelligence officials, as saying <a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/11\/27\/world\/middleeast\/iran-nuclear-scientist-assassinated-mohsen-fakhrizadeh.html?action=click&amp;module=Top%20Stories&amp;pgtype=Homepage\">Israel was behind the attack<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Fakhrizadeh&#8217;s name was specifically mentioned in Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s presentation about Iran&#8217;s nuclear programme in April 2018.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on the international community to &#8220;condemn this act of state terror&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Israeli embassies around the world have been placed on high alert, according to Israel&#8217;s N12 news website on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i84\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"css-1jlqpzd-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">What&#8217;s the context?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>News of the killing comes amid fresh concern about the increased amount of enriched uranium that Iran is producing. Enriched uranium is a vital component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>A 2015 deal with six world powers had placed limits on Iran&#8217;s production of enriched uranium, but since US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, Iran has been deliberately reneging on its agreements. However, it insists its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Joe Biden has pledged to re-engage with Iran when he becomes US president in January, despite long-standing opposition from Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"unordered-list-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<div class=\"css-1pzprxn-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi3\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-middle-east-54972269\">Trump &#8216;asked about attacking Iran nuclear site&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-middle-east-54912402\">Iran&#8217;s enriched uranium stockpile &#8217;12 times limit&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-middle-east-54958361\">After Trump, what will Biden do about Iran?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The former head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Brennan, said the killing of the scientist was a &#8220;criminal&#8221; and &#8220;highly reckless&#8221; act that risks inflaming conflict in the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>In a <a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JohnBrennan\/status\/1332400792620462082?s=20\">series of tweets<\/a>, he said Fakhrizadeh&#8217;s death &#8220;risks lethal retaliation and a new round of regional conflict&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Mr Brennan added that he did not know &#8220;whether a foreign government authorised or carried out the murder of Fakhrizadeh&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"css-1759m9z-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"css-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\"><span class=\"css-1exovz1-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/c.files.bbci.co.uk\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 800w\" alt=\"2px presentational grey line\" width=\"640\" height=\"2\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"css-1759m9z-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"css-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\"><span class=\"css-13t93ir-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/c.files.bbci.co.uk\/4662\/production\/_115681081__104759297_lysedoucet_tr-nc.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/4662\/production\/_115681081__104759297_lysedoucet_tr-nc.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/4662\/production\/_115681081__104759297_lysedoucet_tr-nc.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4662\/production\/_115681081__104759297_lysedoucet_tr-nc.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/4662\/production\/_115681081__104759297_lysedoucet_tr-nc.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/4662\/production\/_115681081__104759297_lysedoucet_tr-nc.png 800w\" alt=\"Analysis box by Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent\" width=\"1706\" height=\"340\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>These are weeks which matter &#8211; the countdown to 20 January when President-elect Biden takes office with a new approach to Iran, including an expected return to the 2015 nuclear deal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>This assassination follows <a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-middle-east-55042055\">the not-so-secret meeting last week in Saudi Arabia<\/a> between the Saudi foreign minister and Israeli prime minister &#8211; officially denied by the kingdom. It sent another signal that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Benjamin Netanyahu see this window as their last best chance in a while to try to inflict a crippling blow on their arch-enemy Iran &#8211; a blow to also complicate an already challenging course for a new US team to re-engage with the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>All sides know it&#8217;s also a moment fraught with risk. Iran&#8217;s President Rouhani declares Iran is &#8220;too wise to fall into Israel&#8217;s trap&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>An immediate retaliation risks an even greater reply, and a descent into even greater crisis which could imperil any chance of a new start in January.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"css-1759m9z-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"css-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\"><span class=\"css-1exovz1-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/c.files.bbci.co.uk\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/1226D\/production\/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png 800w\" alt=\"2px presentational grey line\" width=\"640\" height=\"2\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i84\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"css-1jlqpzd-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">What happened to the scientist and why was he important?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Iran&#8217;s defence ministry said the leading scientist was seriously wounded after attackers targeted his car and exchanged fire with his bodyguards, in the town of Absard, to the east of Tehran, on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Fakhrizadeh later died from his injuries in hospital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"css-1759m9z-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"css-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\"><span class=\"css-1hq4gmv-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/c.files.bbci.co.uk\/10411\/production\/_115677566_iran_assasination_map_640x2-nc.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/10411\/production\/_115677566_iran_assasination_map_640x2-nc.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/10411\/production\/_115677566_iran_assasination_map_640x2-nc.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/10411\/production\/_115677566_iran_assasination_map_640x2-nc.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/10411\/production\/_115677566_iran_assasination_map_640x2-nc.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/10411\/production\/_115677566_iran_assasination_map_640x2-nc.png 800w\" alt=\"Map showing Absard and location of killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>It is not clear what happened to the perpetrators of the attack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Fakhrizadeh has long been spoken about by Western security sources as extremely powerful and instrumental in Iran&#8217;s nuclear programme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>According to secret documents obtained by Israel in 2018, he led a programme to create nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>At the time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he identified Fakhrizadeh as the head scientist in the programme, and urged people to &#8220;remember that name&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"media-block\">\n<figure class=\"css-1759m9z-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"css-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\">\n<div id=\"bbcMediaPlayer1\" class=\"css-bhez6r-Container e1h75hkw0\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>In 2015, <a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2014\/06\/25\/world\/middleeast\/top-scientist-from-iran-hinders-talks-with-absence.html\">the New York Times compared him to J Robert Oppenheimer<\/a>, the physicist who directed the Manhattan Project that during World War Two produced the first atomic weapons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>A professor of physics, Fakhrizadeh is said to have led Project Amad, the alleged covert programme that was established in 1989 to research the potential for building a nuclear bomb.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>It was shut down in 2003, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), though Mr Netanyahu said the documents retrieved in 2018 showed Fakhrizadeh led a programme which secretly continued Project Amad&#8217;s work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The IAEA (the United Nations&#8217; nuclear watchdog) has long wanted to speak to him as part of its investigations into Iran&#8217;s nuclear programme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Suspicions that Iran was using the programme as a cover to develop a nuclear bomb prompted the EU, US and UN to impose crippling sanctions in 2010.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Since President Trump abandoned the 2015 deal, tensions between the US and Iran have escalated, peaking in January with America&#8217;s assassination of Gen Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards&#8217; Quds force.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BBC \u2014 Iran&#8217;s president has blamed Israel for the killing of a top nuclear scientist on Friday, and said it would not slow down the country&#8217;s nuclear programme. Hassan Rouhani also said Iran would retaliate over Mohsen Fakhrizadeh&#8217;s killing at a time of its choosing. Fakhrizadeh was killed in an ambush on his car by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":90773,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latests"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["fa","en"],"languages":{"fa":{"title":true,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90772"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90775,"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90772\/revisions\/90775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/PERSIAN-HERITAGE.COM\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}