Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh-Mahabadi, the scientist alleged to be in charge of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, was reportedly assassinated Friday morning outside of Iran.
In addition to serving as a professor of physics at Imam Hussein University in Tehran, Fakhrizadeh-Mahabadi was also a former brigadier general in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and held a senior Defense Ministry position at the time of his death.
The assassination claim was originally made by Iranian state-run media and was shortly confirmed by Western news outlets, including the Associated Press. No country or group has yet taken credit for Fakhrizadeh-Mahabadi’s death, although Iranian media blamed Israel. (RELATED: US Hits Iran With More Sanctions As Pompeo Makes Case For ‘Maximum Pressure’)
Iranian women wave a national flag (L) and a burnt US flag (R) during commemorations marking 41 years since the Islamic Revolution in the capital Tehran’s Azadi Square on February 11, 2020. – Thousands of Iranians massed for commemorations marking 41 years since the Islamic Revolution, in a show of unity at a time of heightened tensions with the United States. The celebrations mark the day that Shiite cleric Khomeini returned from exile and ousted the shah’s last government. (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)
Fakhrizadeh-Mahabadi was subject to both American and United Nations sanctions as a result of his role in Iran’s nuclear program. He had repeatedly refused to sit for interviews with U.N. investigators.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian state television says scientist that Israel alleged led a military nuclear program in early 2000s ‘assassinated.’
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) November 27, 2020
A mid-November report from the New York Times claimed that President Donald Trump inquired about potential strikes the U.S. could take against Iran’s nuclear program prior to leaving office in January 2021.
Site of the attack, according to #Iran semi-official news agency: https://t.co/AM4LlQLsXZ
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) November 27, 2020
Trump has maintained a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran following his decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018. That campaign included escalating sanctions against Iranian nationals and groups and the 2019 killing of former Quds force commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
WATCH:
Hossein Dehghan, former Iranian defense minister, recently told the Associated Press that any further U.S. attack on the country would result in “full-fledged war.”
“A limited, tactical conflict can turn into a full-fledged war,” he stated. “Definitely, the United States, the region and the world cannot stand such a comprehensive crisis.”
The State Department, National Security Council, and White House officials all had not responded to Daily Caller’s inquiries by press time.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information comes available.
