The Iranian government speculates that the assassination was executed by Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, though Tel-Aviv has neither confirmed nor denied the allegation.
The United Nations has called for exercising restraint and avoiding escalation in the Middle East region following the recent assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iranian nuclear physicist and head of the Defence Ministry’s research and innovation centre.
Fakhrizadeh was killed in the town of Absar, not far from Tehran, as an explosive-laden car exploded near his vehicle, followed by a shooting, the Iranian defense minister confirmed.
He was taken to the hospital but did not survive the injuries.
“We have noted the reports that an Iranian nuclear scientist has been assassinated near Tehran today. We urge restraint and the need to avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of tensions in the region”, the deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-Genera, Farhan Haq, said on late Friday.
While Tel Aviv has neither confirmed nor denied being behind the assassination, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to take revenge for the prominent scientist, siding with Zarif in blaming Israel for his murder.
