Iranian Leaders Claim Israel Acted as “Mercenary” and Promised to Avenge Scientist’s Death | Middle East



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Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, today called for the “punishment” of those responsible for the murder of one of Iran’s most prominent nuclear scientists on Friday.

OR ayatollah Ali Khamenei asked “that this crime be investigated and, of course, that there be punishment for the perpetrators and perpetrators (…), continuing the scientific and technical effort of this martyr in all areas in which he worked”, according to one press release issued this Saturday.

The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, has accused Israel of acting as a “mercenary” at the behest of the United States.

“Once again, the ruthless hands of world arrogance, with the usurper of the Zionist regime as a mercenary, are stained with the blood of a son of this nation,” Rouhani denounced in a statement published on his official website, referring to the murder of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Rouhani guaranteed, however, that the scientist’s death would not “disturb” scientific progress in the country, reiterating that the death was due to the “weakness and inability” of Tehran’s enemies to prevent its development.

The Iranian president also extended his condolences “to the scientific community and the Iranian revolutionary people”.

On Friday, the Iranian chief of staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, warned that “a terrible revenge” will hit those responsible for the murder of the Iranian scientist specializing in the nuclear sector.

“The terrorist groups and those responsible and responsible for this cowardly attempt must know that a terrible revenge awaits them,” Bagheri wrote on the social network Twitter, according to the state agency Irna.

In a statement, the Iranian Ministry of Defense identified the target of the attack as Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, head of the ministry’s research and innovation department.

Fakhrizadeh was “seriously injured when his car was hit by several attackers, who in turn were attacked by the scientist’s security team, the statement read, adding that the medical team was unable to revive him.

The US State Department indicated in 2008 that the scientist was carrying out “activities and transactions that have contributed to the development of the Iranian nuclear program.

Fakhrizadeh had been described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the “father” of the Iranian nuclear program, the scientist headed the so-called Iranian “Amad” or “Hope” program.

Israel and the West said this military operation aimed to find out the feasibility of building nuclear weapons in Iran, but Tehran has always claimed that its nuclear program is peaceful.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that the “Amad” program ended in the early 2000s and its inspectors now monitor Iranian installations as part of the Iran nuclear deal with the five countries with a permanent seat on the Council United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France – and Germany.

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