To quote Star Trek, “He’s dead Jim.”
If Iran had a Robbert Oppenheimer, his name would be Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
Mohsen has long been considered the brains behind Iran’s atomic bomb efforts. And with Iran hustling toward gaining nuclear capability, Iran’s nuclear ambitions were becoming a problem. For one thing, they are one of the few rogue nations in the world reckless enough to employ one if they had the chance.
This news comes not long after it had been rumored that Iran was now not far from developing a nuclear weapon.
Like the killing of Solemani, the fate of this one man could have significant implications in Iran’s ability to loom as a threat to its neighbors.
And now?
The man is dead.
Soon after the announcement of Fakhrizadeh’s death, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter that “terrorists” had murdered an “eminent Iranian scientist.”
“This cowardice — with serious indications of Israeli role — shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators,” Zarif wrote. “Iran calls on international community — and especially E.U. — to end their shameful double standards and condemn this act of state terror.” –NBC
Iranian state media reported that Fakhrizadeh died in an attack on his car in the Absard area of the province of Damavand, about 40 miles east of Tehran, the capital. The area is a well-known retreat for Iran’s elite.
…”Fakhrizadeh was a significant and irreplaceable official,” a former senior U.S. intelligence official told NBC News on the condition of anonymity.
He said Fakhrizadeh was significant not only because he had the technical skill and knowledge to manage a nuclear weapons program but also the “trust” of senior Iranian political leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He added that it would be wrong to minimize Fakhrizadeh’s “loss to Iran.”
The killing also raises serious questions about Iran’s ability to safeguard secrets and maintain security, he said. –NBC
Neither Israel nor the CIA is officially commenting one way or the other. Nor would we expect them to… one way or the other.
The scientist’s car was reportedly struck by an explosion set by a “suicide” assassin before being sprayed with bullets in a brutal killing that is expected to spark harsh retaliation.
According to Iran state media, several other people have also died in the explosion.
Chilling pictures from the scene show the blood-soaked pavement and a black car punctured with bullets.
…Iran has vowed to “strike like thunder” on whoever carried out the attack.
Hossein Dehghan a top Iranian military adviser tweeted: “We will strike as thunder at the killers of this oppressed martyr and will make them regret their action”.
And the BBC reports Major General Hossein Salami said: “Assassination of nuclear scientists is the most obvious violation of the global hegemony to prevent our access to modern sciences.”
Pointing the finger at Israel, Iran’s Foreign Minister tweeted: “Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today.
“This cowardice – with serious indications of Israeli role – shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators
“Iran calls on international community – and especially EU – to end their shameful double standards & condemn this act of state terror.”-TheSun
Yeah right. Iran’s going to pick a fight with … who exactly?
Gee, did they miss the memo about the Abraham accords? Israel and the Arab world are coming into alignment — against Iran.
Hey IRAN: Don’t Get Too Excited About Hooking Up With Biden Again — Here’s Why (VIDEO)
