There were conflicting accounts of Iranian news agencies about how the attack took place.
According to a report published by Fars News on Sunday, Fakhrizadeh was traveling with his wife in a bulletproof car with three security personnel vehicles on Friday when he heard the vehicles sound like bullets being fired, and from that car to determine what happened. Got out.
As he got out of the vehicle, a remote-controlled machine gun fired from Nissan, about 150 meters (164 yards) from Fikrizadeh’s car.
According to Faraz News, Fakhrizadeh was hit at least three times. Her bodyguard was also shot. Following the shooting, Nissan exploded, Persian News reported, the attack lasted three minutes.
CNN cannot independently confirm the news agency’s version of events.
The semi-official Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) also reported that Fakhrizadeh’s car was shot at, followed by an explosion and more shootings, Iranian Defense Minister Briggs said. General Amir Hatami.
“Mr. Fakhrizadeh’s vehicle was initially targeted by gunfire based on reports received from members detailing his security, then a Nissan vehicle loaded with explosives was fired at by a gun near him, targeting his vehicle,” Hatmi said, according to ISNA.
The Iranian state television’s IRIB said the blast took place first, followed by a shootout with the attackers.
“Undoubtedly, the Islamic Republic of Iran will give a calculated and decisive answer to the criminals who took the martyr Fakhrizadeh,” Kharraji was told.
Fakhrizadeh was the head of a new technology research center in the Revolutionary Guards and a leading figure in Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian leaders blame Israel
Supreme Leader Khamenei wrote on a Twitter account on Saturday in which his official idols are often kept, “Mr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed by oppressive enemies. This rare scientist lost his life for his everlasting great scientific work. And lost his life for the supreme. Leader. “
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called on the international community to “end their shameful double standards” and “condemn this act of state terrorism.” He added that the attack showed “serious signs of an Israeli role”.
Khemni’s military adviser, Major General Hossein Dehgan, retweeted on Saturday that “Zionists” were trying to create an “all-out war” and vowed to “descend like lightning” on Fakhrizadeh’s assassins.
President Hassan Rouhani, among many Iranian leaders blaming Israel, vowed to retaliate, saying during a cabinet meeting on Saturday that “think tanks and Iran’s enemies must know that the Iranian nation and its officials are brave and determined to respond in a timely manner.” Is. “
The killings, he said, were carried out “in the dirty hands of tyrants,” along with the illegal Zionist regime.
Iran has not provided any evidence of Israeli involvement. On Friday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment to CNN.
Israeli Reconciliation Minister Tajachi Henegbi told Israel’s Channel 12 news that he had “no idea” who killed Fakhrizadeh, but called it “very shameful for Iran.”
“Remember that name Fakhrizadeh,” the prime minister told reporters at the time.
Protests erupted in Tehran
The assassination threatens to escalate tensions in Tehran-Washington relations, which have deteriorated under the presidency of US President Donald Trump. In 2018, Trump pulled out of a multilateral nuclear deal with Iran, and Iran began withdrawing its commitments from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action last year. Trump has called for economic sanctions on the country.
The White House is monitoring Fakhrizadeh’s killing, he said. On Friday, Trump retweeted Israeli journalist Yossi Melman, who wrote that Fakhrizadeh was “the head of Iran’s secret military program and wanted by Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, for many years.”
Students and young Iranians rallied at several government buildings in Tehran and during a demonstration outside the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, protesters burned US and Israeli flags and posters depicting Trump and President-elect Joe Biden.
The killings were condemned by the European Union and called for “maximum restraint,” while the United Kingdom’s foreign office said it was “urgently trying to establish the facts.” “
Fakhrizadeh’s funeral and burial will take place on Monday, Fars News reported. On Friday, the remains of Fakhrizadeh were taken to the temple of Imam Reza, the most important religious center for Shiites in Makhhad. After Sunday’s service in Mashhad, his body was to be taken to the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Tehran.
CNN’s Remin Mostagim, Angela Diwan and Samantha Beach contributed to the report.
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