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WORLD NEWS Monday 30 noveMber 2020
Iran newspaper: Strike Haifa if Israel killed scientist

By AMIR VAHDAT and JON hind the killing.
GAMBRELL Associated Fakhrizadeh headed Iran's
Press so-called AMAD program,
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An which Israel and the West
opinion piece published have alleged was a mili-
Sunday by a hard-line Ira- tary operation looking at
nian newspaper urged Iran the feasibility of building
to attack the Israeli port a nuclear weapon. The
city of Haifa if Israel carried IAEA says the "structured
out the killing of the scientist program" ended in 2003.
who founded the Islamic U.S. intelligence agencies
Republic's military nuclear concurred with that assess-
program in the early 2000s. ment in a 2007 report.
Though the hard-line Kay- Israel contends Iran is still
han newspaper has long intent on developing a
argued for aggressive re- nuclear weapon. It argues
taliation for operations Iran's ballistic missile pro-
targeting Iran, Sunday's gram and other research
opinion piece went further, could help build a bomb if
suggesting any assault be it pursued one — especially
carried out in a way that as provisions of the 2015 nu-
destroys facilities and "also clear deal expire. Iran long
causes heavy human casu- has maintained its nuclear
alties." A group of protesters burn pictures of the U.S. President Donald Trump, top, and the President-elect program is peaceful.
Israel, suspected of killing Joe Biden in a gathering in front of Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. Amos Yadlin, a former
Iranian nuclear scientists Associated Press. head of Israeli military in-
over the past decade, has telligence who is now di-
not commented on the While Kayhan is a small cir- said was a routine visit with edented, real-time look at rector of the Institute for
brazen slaying of Mohsen culation newspaper, its ed- commanders along the Iran's civilian nuclear pro- National Security Studies, a
Fakhrizadeh. A military-style itor-in-chief Hossein Shariat- front with Syria. Earlier this gram following the coun- Tel Aviv think tank, alleged
ambush Friday on the out- madari was appointed by month, Israeli warplanes try's 2015 nuclear deal with Fakhrizadeh ran "all covert
skirts of Tehran reportedly Supreme Leader Ayatollah struck Iranian-linked targets world powers. activities with weaponiza-
saw a truck bomb explode Ali Khamenei and has been in Syria after Israel uncov- The deal has unraveled tion of the program."
and gunmen open fire on described as an adviser to ered roadside bombs that after President Donald The damage of his death
the scientist, killing him and him in the past. it said were planted with Trump's unilateral 2018 "cannot be measured since
a bodyguard. Haifa, on the Mediterra- Iranian guidance. withdrawal of the U.S. from nobody knows exactly the
U.S. intelligence agencies nean Sea, has been threat- "I came here to evaluate the accord. Iran's civilian scope and the depth what
and U.N. nuclear inspectors ened in the past by both the current state of secu- atomic program has since the Iranians are doing co-
have said the organized Iran and one of its prox- rity, with an emphasis on continued its experiments vertly," Yadlin said. "But no
military nuclear program ies, the Lebanese militant the Iranian entrenchment and now enriches a grow- doubt that he was the core
that Fakhrizadeh oversaw group Hezbollah. Haifa, in Syria," Kohavi said. "Our ing uranium stockpile up to source of authority, knowl-
disbanded in 2003. Israel Israel's third-largest city, is message is clear: We will 4.5% purity. edge and organization of
insists Iran still maintains the home to a major port and continue to act as vigor- That's still far below weap- this program."
ambition of developing nu- power plant. ously as necessary against ons-grade levels of 90%, Fakhrizadeh's killing likely
clear weapons. Such a strike likely would the Iranian entrenchment though experts warn Iran complicates the plans of
Kayhan published the draw an immediate Israeli in Syria, and we will remain now has enough low-en- President-elect Joe Biden,
piece written by Iranian retaliation and spark a fully prepared against any riched uranium to repro- who has said his administra-
analyst Sadollah Zarei, who wider conflict across the manifestation of aggres- cess into fuel for at least tion will consider reentering
argued Iran's previous re- Mideast. While Iran has sion against us." two atomic bombs if it Tehran's nuclear deal with
sponses to suspected Israeli never directly targeted an The Iranian parliament on chose to pursue them. The world powers. It also raises
airstrikes that killed Revo- Israeli city militarily, it has Sunday held a closed-door proposed bill reportedly the risk of an open con-
lutionary Guard forces in conducted attacks target- hearing about Fakhriza- also would require Iran's flict in Trump's final weeks
Syria did not go far enough ing Israeli interests abroad deh's killing. Afterward, civilian atomic program to in office, as any retaliation
to deter Israel. He said in the past over the killing parliament speaker Mo- produce at least 120 kilo- could provoke an Ameri-
an assault on Haifa also of its scientists, like in the hammad Baqer Ghalibaf grams (265 pounds) of ura- can military response, Yad-
needed to be greater than case of the three Iranians said Iran's enemies must be nium enriched to 20% — a lin said.
Iran's ballistic missile attack recently freed in Thailand made to regret killing him. short technical step to 90%. "I highly recommend to
against American troops in in exchange for a detained "The criminal enemy does Iran's 290-seat parliament the officials to keep their
Iraq following the U.S. drone British-Australian academ- not regret it except with a is dominated by hard-liners mouths closed and not leak
strike in Baghdad that killed ic. strong reaction," he said who likely would support anything. They've already
a top Iranian general in Israel also is widely believed in a broadcast on Iranian the bill. It ultimately would spoken too much," he said,
January. to have its own nuclear state radio. have to be approved by referring to cryptic remarks
Striking the Israeli city of weapons, a stockpile it nei- A public session of lawmak- Iran's Guardian Council. by Israel's Prime Minister
Haifa and killing a large ther confirms nor denies ers saw them chant: "Death Khamenei also has final say Benjamin Netanyahu to his
number of people "will defi- possessing. to America!" and "Death to on all matters of state. supporters that he could
nitely lead to deterrence, Israeli officials remained Israel!" Khamenei has called not discuss everything he
because the United States silent about the scientist's They also began the review Fakhrizadeh "the coun- did last week.
and the Israeli regime and death on Sunday. But Lt. of a bill that would stop in- try's prominent and distin- "Any more evidence that
its agents are by no means Gen Aviv Kohavi, com- spections by the Interna- guished nuclear and de- will help the Iranians to de-
ready to take part in a war mander of the Israeli mili- tional Atomic Energy Agen- fensive scientist" and has cide on retaliation against
and a military confronta- tary, traveled to northern cy. The nuclear watchdog demanded the "definitive Israel is a mistake," Yadlin
tion," Zarei wrote. Israel for what the army has provided an unprec- punishment" of those be- said.q