Iran Points to Israel as Behind Assassination of Nuclear Scientist

On the 27th (local time), Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that Fakhrizadeh, head of the Ministry of Defense's Research and Innovation Organization and a nuclear scientist, was assassinated in a terrorist attack in the small town of Absard near the capital, Tehran. Fakhrizadeh is known as the figure who led the 'Amad Project,' Iran's nuclear weapons development program, from 1999 to 2003.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Tensions are escalating in the Middle East following the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (59), the scientist who led Iran's nuclear development.

On the 27th (local time), major foreign media reported that Fakhrizadeh was attacked in a terrorist assault in the small town of Absard near the capital Tehran, was taken to a hospital, but died.

Iran immediately pointed to Israel as the party behind the incident. Concerns over military conflicts in the Middle East are growing. The British daily The Guardian reported, "Even if it is not confirmed who assassinated Fakhrizadeh, his death will escalate the openly revealed conflict between Iran and Israel."

Iran directly and indirectly supports Lebanon's Hezbollah, an Islamic Shia armed faction, and Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime. It is considered Israel's greatest adversary.

Amir Hatami, Iran's Minister of Defense, appeared on local TV that day and stated that Fakhrizadeh's death has a "clear connection" to the assassination of Soleimani and that the United States is also responsible.