Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei on Saturday called for the ‘punishing’ of those behind the assassination
of one of the country’s best nuclear scientists, Dr Mohsin Fakhrizadeh, adding
that the contribution of the latter must be carried forward, AFP reported.

Khamenei called for “following up
on this crime and certainly punishing the perpetrators and those responsible,
and … continuing the scientific and technical efforts of this martyr in all of
the fields he was working in,” as quoted by AFP, in
accordance with a statement published on his website.

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“This unparalleled scientist gave
his dear and valuable life to God because of his great and lasting scientific
efforts, and the high prize of martyrdom is his divine reward,” Supreme
Leader further added.

According to the Defence Ministry,
Fakhrizadeh was ‘martyred’ after being heavily wounded as assailants engaged in
a gunfight with his bodyguards outside the capital city of Tehran on Friday.

The ministry further stated that the
medics were unable to revive the scientist heading the research and innovation
organization.

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Commenting on the incident, Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani said that “The nation of Iran is smarter than to fall in the
trap of the conspiracy set by the Zionists. They are thinking of creating
chaos, but they should know that we have read their hands and they will not
succeed”, hinting towards the country’s arch-enemy Israel, who the leader
further accused of acting as a ‘mercenary’ for the US.

Rouhani promised retaliation in ‘due
time’.