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A30 world news
Diaranson 2 December 2020

Iran's supreme leader vows revenge over slain scientist

Hours after the attack, the Pentagon
announced it had brought the USS
Nimitz aircraft carrier back into the
Middle East, an unusual move as the
carrier already spent months in the
region. It cited the drawdown of U.S.
forces in Afghanistan and Iraq as the
reason for the decision, saying “it was
prudent to have additional defensive
capabilities in the region to meet any
contingency.”

Iran has conducted attacks targeting
Israeli interests abroad over the kill-
ing of its scientists, like in the case of
the three Iranians recently freed in
Thailand in exchange for a detained
British-Australian academic.

Iran also could throw out inspec-
tors from the International Atomic
Energy Agency, who have provided
an unprecedented, real-time look at
Iran's nuclear program since the deal.
Nasrollah Pezhmanfar, a hard-line
lawmaker, said a statement calling to
expel the “IAEA's spy inspections”
could be read Sunday, the parlia-
ment's official website quoted him as
saying.

Friday’s attack happened in Absard, a
village just east of the capital that is a
retreat for the country's elite. Iranian
(AP) — Iran's supreme leader on first priority after the killing was the heimer, the scientist who led Ameri- state television said an old truck with
Saturday demanded the “defini- “definitive punishment of the perpe- ca's Manhattan Project in World War explosives hidden under a load of
tive punishment” of those behind trators and those who ordered it.” He II that created the atom bomb. wood blew up near a sedan carrying
the killing of a scientist who led did not elaborate. Fakhrizadeh.
Tehran's disbanded military nu- Fakhrizadeh headed Iran’s so-called
clear program, as the Islamic Re- Speaking earlier Saturday, President AMAD program that Israel and the As Fakhrizadeh’s sedan stopped, at
public blamed Israel for a slaying Hassan Rouhani blamed Israel for the West have alleged was a military op- least five gunmen emerged and raked
that has raised fears of reignited killing. eration looking at the feasibility of the car with rapid fire, the semiof-
tensions across the Middle East. building a nuclear weapon. The In- ficial Tasnim news agency said. The
“We will respond to the assassination ternational Atomic Energy Agency precision of the attack led to the sus-
After years of being in the shadows, of Martyr Fakhrizadeh in a proper says that “structured program” ended picion of Israel's Mossad intelligence
the image of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh time,” Rouhani said. “The Iranian in 2003. Iran long has maintained its service being involved. The CIA sep-
suddenly was to be seen everywhere nation is smarter than falling into the nuclear program is peaceful. arately declined to comment on the
in Iranian media, as his widow spoke trap of the Zionists. They are think- attack Saturday.
on state television and officials pub- ing to create chaos.” Fakhrizadeh's widow appeared un-
licly demanded revenge on Israel for named on state television in a black State media has only said the attack
the scientist's slaying. The United Nations called for re- chador, saying his death would spark killed Fakhrizadeh, though a state-
straint. a thousand others to take up his work. ment Saturday from the European
Israel, long suspected of killing Ira- Union described the incident as kill-
nian scientists a decade ago amid “Of course we condemn any assas- “He wanted to get martyred and his ing “an Iranian government official
earlier tensions over Tehran’s nucle- sination or extra-judicial killing," said wish came true,” she said. and several civilians.” EU officials
ar program, has yet to comment on Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for did not respond to requests for com-
Fakhrizadeh's killing Friday. How- Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Hard-line Iranian media has begun ment.
ever, the attack bore the hallmarks "We urge restraint and the need to circulating memorial images show-
of a carefully planned, military-style avoid any actions that could lead to an ing Fakhrizadeh standing alongside In Tehran, a small group of hardline
ambush, the likes of which Israel has escalation of tensions in the region.” a machine-gun-cradling likeness of protesters burned images of Trump
been accused of conducting before. Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem and President-elect Joe Biden, who
The attack has renewed fears of Iran Both Rouhani and Khamenei said Soleimani, whom the U.S. killed in has said his administration will con-
striking back against the U.S., Israel's Fakhrizadeh’s death would not stop the January drone strike. sider reentering Tehran's nuclear deal
closest ally in the region, as it did ear- the nuclear program. Iran’s civilian with world powers. While burning an
lier this year when a U.S. drone strike atomic program has continued its ex- Soleimani's death led to Iran retaliat- American and Israeli flag, the hard-
killed a top Iranian general. The U.S. periments and now enriches a grow- ing with a ballistic missile barrage that liners criticized Iran's foreign minis-
military acknowledged moving an ing uranium stockpile up to 4.5% injured dozens of American troops ter who helped negotiate the nuclear
aircraft carrier back into the region, purity in response to the collapse in Iraq. Tehran also has forces at its deal, showing the challenge ahead of
while an Iranian lawmaker suggested of Iran's nuclear deal after the U.S.' disposal all around Israel, including Tehran if officials chose to come back
throwing out U.N. nuclear inspec- 2018 withdrawal from the accord. troops and proxies in neighboring the accord.
tors in response to the killing. That's still far below weapons-grade Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Is-
levels of 90%, though experts warn lamic Jihad — and to a lesser extent On Saturday night, the family of
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Iran now has enough low-enriched Hamas — in the Gaza Strip. The Ira- Fakhrizadeh gathered at a mosque in
Khamenei called Fakhrizadeh “the uranium for at least two atomic nian Guard's naval forces routinely central Tehran for his funeral service,
country’s prominent and distin- bombs if it chose to pursue them. shadow and have tense encounters a website associated with Iranian state
guished nuclear and defensive sci- with U.S. Navy forces in the Persian TV reported. The scientist's body lay
entist.” Khamenei, who has the final Analysts have compared Fakhrizadeh Gulf as well. in a flag-draped, open coffin, his eyes
say on all matters of state, said Iran’s to being on par with Robert Oppen- closed.