Iran says nuclear scientist assassinated, suggests Israeli role

Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, died in hospital from wounds suffered during an attack by “armed terrorists” on Friday, news agency AFP reported, quoting the defence ministry. The scientist was “seriously wounded” when assailants targeted his car before being engaged in a gunfight with his security team, the statement said.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif said the assassination of the scientist had ‘serious indications of Israeli role’.

It added that Fakhrizadeh, who headed the defence ministry’s research and innovation organisation, was later “martyred” after medics failed to revive him.

“Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today. This cowardice — with serious indications of Israeli role — shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators,” Zarif wrote on Twitter.

He also called on the international community to “end their shameful double standards and condemn this act of state terror.”