Iran’s Khamenei Urges To ‘Punish’ Those Behind Killing Scientists

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Saturday (November 28) for the “punishment” of those behind the assassination of a leading nuclear scientist, adding that his work must continue.

He asked “to follow up on this crime and certainly punish the perpetrators and those responsible, and … to continue the scientific and technical effort of this martyr in all the fields in which he works,” according to a statement from the Supreme Leader. official Web site.

Khamenei called Mohsen Fakhrizadeh a “prestigious nuclear and defense scientist” and said he was “martyred at the hands of criminal and cruel mercenaries.”

“This incomparable scientist gave his dear and valuable life to God because of his great and enduring scientific endeavors, and the great prize of martyrdom is his divine reward,” he added.

Fakhrizadeh was “martyred” after being seriously wounded when the assailants attacked his car and engaged in a shootout with his bodyguards outside the capital Tehran on Friday, according to Iran’s Defense Ministry.

The ministry said the scientist, who ran its research and innovation organization, died after doctors failed to revive him.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had previously accused Iran’s arch enemy Israel of acting as a “mercenary” for the United States and seeking to create chaos by carrying out the assassination.

“The nation of Iran is smarter than falling into the conspiracy trap set by the Zionists. They are thinking of creating chaos, but they must know that we have read their hands and that they will not succeed,” Rouhani said in televised remarks. .

He promised that Iran will not “leave this criminal act unanswered” and will retaliate “in due course.”