United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres urges calm after the assassination attempt on the alleged mastermind of Iran’s secret nuclear bomb program. Iran wrote in a letter to Guterres that there is “serious evidence” that Israel is involved in the assassination attempt. “We expect the UN to strongly condemn the attack”,
Guterres calls on everyone to be restrained. Any actions that could lead to an increase in tension in the region should be avoided, his spokesman said. The secretary general comes with the call after Iran’s announcement to avenge the murder of the top scientist.
Iran expects the UN to strongly condemn the attack. “This is a warning of any adventurous measures by the US and Israel against Iran, especially during the remaining months of the current US administration,” Iranian UN envoy Majid Takht Ravanchi wrote to the UN. “Iran has the right to defend its people and the interests of the country,”
An important adviser to the strict Islamic regime in the capital Tehran said that arch enemy Israel, which he said was behind the attack, wants to start a war. The murder would have the blessing of US President Trump.
Scientist came under fire in Tehran
Scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed after the car he was in was ambushed in a suburb of Tehran. The 63-year-old nuclear scientist succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards. He was regarded in the West as the leading figure in Iran’s attempts to make a nuclear bomb.
The Department of Defense confirmed the top expert’s death earlier on Friday. Defense minister Amir Hatami said the attack “shows the depth of the hatred of our enemies”.
Fakhrizadeh was shot and killed in an ambush near Tehran. “Attempts to resuscitate him have not been successful,” Iranian authorities said.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused archenemy Israel of involvement, but offered no evidence. The Israeli and US governments declined to comment.
Physicist would lead Iran’s nuclear program
Military and physicist Fakhrizadeh, according to Western countries, Israel and Iranian exiles, led the nuclear weapons development program, which was shut down in 2003. Iran has always denied that it was or is looking to make an atomic bomb.
Earlier this year, the important Iranian nuclear complex at Natanz was badly damaged by sabotage, as the Iranian authorities described it, without naming a perpetrator. Foreign observers suspect an attack.
Iran announced several months ago that it was building a new, larger nuclear facility to replace the complex that was destroyed by an explosion and subsequent fire in July. The installation enriched uranium, which is used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.
According to the 2015 international nuclear accord, Iran would limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. When the United States withdrew from the deal, Iran started producing more enriched uranium again.
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