Iran vows revenge for killing of nuclear scientist

Hassan Rouhani blamed Israel for the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and warned retribution would come “in due time”.

Fakhrizadeh was killed by gunmen who ambushed his car in the town of Absard, east of capital Tehran.

As Israel beefed up security at its embassies, Tzachi Hanegbi – a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet – said last night he had “no clue” who was behind the killing. Fakhrizadeh was head of research and in Iran’s ministry of defence. His killing has raised tensions with Israel and ally America over Iran’s nuclear programme.

And Mr Rouhani said his country was preparing to take revenge. In a televised cabinet meeting, he said: “The assassination of martyr Fakhrizadeh shows our enemies’ despair and the depth of their hatred... His martyrdom will not slow down our achievements. Once again, the evil hands of global arrogance and the Zionist mercenaries were stained with the blood of an Iranian son.

“Iran’s enemies should know the people of Iran are braver than to leave this criminal act unanswered.”

In an earlier statement Rouhani accused “mercenaries of the oppressive Zionist regime” of being behind the attack. Yesterday The New York Times quoted two intelligence officials who also blamed Israel.

John Brennan, former head of the CIA, warned the “criminal” and “highly reckless” assassination would inflame tensions in the Middle East.

In a series of tweets, he said Fakhrizadeh’s death “risks lethal retaliation and a new round of regional conflict”.

Mr Brennan added he did not know

WARNING SHOT President Rouhani

“whether a foreign government authorised or carried out the murder”.

Germany urged all sides to show restraint to avoid derailing future talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.

“It is important to preserve the

DEADLY RAID Fakhrizadeh’s bullet-riddled car scope for talks so the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme can be resolved through negotiations,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Fakhrizadeh’s killing comes amid fresh concern about the amount of enriched uranium produced by Iran.

It is a key component for both nuclear power generation and the manufacturing of nuclear weapons.