Generational Dynamics World View

[John J. Xenakis]

** 27-Nov-2020 World View: Iran vows revenge after nuclear scientist is assassinated

• Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (Mehr News)

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh-Mahabadi, allegedly the leader of Iran's nuclear
development program, was ambushed and killed earlier today (11/27).
His car was approached by a pickup truck, leading to an explosion,
followed by gunfire by a number of assailants.

Iranian officials are blaming Israel. According to Iran's foreign
minister Javad Zarif:

Quote:> "Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist
> today. This cowardice—with serious indications of Israeli
> role—shows desperate warmongering of perpetratorsIran calls on
> int'l community—and especially EU—to end their shameful double
> standards & condemn this act of state terror."

An IRGC commander, Hossein Dehghan, also blamed Donald Trump:

Quote:> "In the last days of the political life of their
> ... ally (US President Donald Trump), the Zionists (Israel) seek
> to intensify pressure on Iran and create a full-blown war. We
> will strike as thunder at the killers of this oppressed martyr and
> will make them regret their action."

Iran says that it will investigate, and will get revenge.

The assassination is a major blow to Iran for a couple of reasons.
First, Fakhrizadeh was well protected by Iran's national security
apparatus, the assassination reveals a major failure. Second,
Fakhrizadeh was believed to be leading Iran's effort to develop a
nuclear bomb.

Although Israel is the obvious suspect in the assassination, the BBC
is suggesting another possibility. The hardliners in Iran's
government executed the assassination in order to increase tensions
and prevent a new deal with the Biden administration.

---- Sources:

-- Israel / Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh
assassinated near Tehran
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55105934
(BBC, 27-Nov-2020)

-- Iranian nuclear scientist 'Mohsen Fakhrizadeh' assassinated
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/166416/Iran...sassinated
(Mehr News, Tehran, 27-Nov-2020)

-- Top Iranian nuclear scientist killed – Iran defence ministry
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/2...med-forces
(Al-Jazeera, 27-Nov-2020)

-- Suspected Iranian nuclear mastermind Fakhrizadeh assassinated near
Tehran
https://www.reuters.com/article/iran-nuc...SKBN2871OE
(Reuters, 27-Nov-2020)

-- Factbox: Attacks on scientists in Iran
https://www.reuters.com/article/iran-nuc...SKBN28720X
(Reuters, 27-Nov-2020)

-- Factbox: Who is the Iranian scientist killed in Tehran?
https://www.reuters.com/article/iran-nuc...SKBN2871XI
(Reuters, 27-Nov-2020)

-- Iran's nuclear program chief Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/iran...ort-650457
(Jerusalem Post, 27-Nov-2020)

-- Alleged head of Iran’s nuclear weapons program is assassinated near
Tehran
https://www.timesofisrael.com/head-of-ir...ar-tehran/
(Times Of Israel, 27-Nov-2020)