Claimed to be the Architect of Iran’s Nuclear Program, Iranian Nuclear Scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was ambushed and killed in the city of Absard, about 44 miles east of the capital Tehran. The ambush happened with explosives and machine gun fire, where he was rushed to the hospital and died there. While no immediate claim of responsibility, the Iranian Foreign Minister has pointed the finger at Israel as the prime suspect. The killing is seen is just as grave as the assassination of Qassem Soleimani back in January. Iran has vowed retaliation as they threatened to “strike as thunder at the killers of this oppressed martyr and will make them regret their action. “It seems that despite the lack of concrete evidence, Israel will be on the list for Iran to blame for this act of terror as they mentioned. This also can lead to further deteriorations in relations between the US and Iran as the final weeks of the Trump presidency are here and would leave a Biden presidency in a deep hole in regards to Iran.
Fakhrizadeh was regarded as the “main keeper of Iranian knowledge of its nuclear programme.” His face was never shown until April 2018 in effort to keep in secret as other Iranian nuclear scientists were killed, with suspicions of them being killed by Israeli assassins. He is hailed as a martyr in Iran, and was also according to Western and Israeli intelligence officials a key figure in an atomic bomb program that was stopped in 2003. In a presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Fakhrizadeh was a central figure in the presentation as he accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons and using its nuclear program for that reason. In his presentation, Netayahu said “Remember that name, Fakhrizadeh.”
This situation of course can possibly lead to a confrontation in the Middle East between Iran and Israel. This also could possibly put the United States in a bad light as Iran has accused the US of provoking Iran as best as they can before the Biden Presidency begins, which is doubtful at this point. This also can be just words alone as Iran vowed the same action when Solemani was killed and nothing happened. Only time will tell what will happen after more is revealed about this event.
Jordan,
You’re certainly right that this is a significant development–and not a good one. I agree with the news reports that this is very likely an action taken by the Mosad, given that the Israelis are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. You’re also right that this likely will make things more difficult for the incoming Biden administration, both in terms of reentering (and maintaining) the JCPOA and attempting to reengage with the Iranian leadership, who naturally assume that the US was working with the Israelis on this assassination.
–Professor Wallerstein