![\"\"](\"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Iran-300x189.png\")
International Desk: A top Iranian security official on Monday accused Israel of using \u201celectronic devices\u201d to remotely kill a scientist who founded the Islamic Republic\u2019s military nuclear program in the 2000s.<\/p>\nInternational Desk: A top Iranian security official on Monday accused Israel of using \u201celectronic devices\u201d to remotely kill a scientist who founded the Islamic Republic\u2019s military nuclear program in the 2000s.<\/p>\n
Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the country\u2019s Supreme National Security Council, made the comment at the funeral for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, where Iran\u2019s defense minister separately vowed to continue the man\u2019s work \u201cwith more speed and more power.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israel, long suspected of killing Iranian nuclear scientists over the last decade, has declined to comment on the attack.<\/p>\n
Fakhrizadeh headed Iran\u2019s so-called AMAD program, which Israel and the West have alleged was a military operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon. The International Atomic Energy Agency says that \u201cstructured program\u201d ended in 2003. U.S. intelligence agencies concurred with that assessment in a 2007 report.<\/p>\n
Israel insists Iran still maintains the ambition of developing nuclear weapons, pointing to Tehran\u2019s ballistic missile program and research into other technologies. Iran long has maintained its nuclear program is peaceful.<\/p>\n
Shamkhani\u2019s remarks drastically change the story of Fakhrizadeh\u2019s killing Friday. Authorities initially said a truck exploded and then gunmen opened fire on the scientist, killing him.<\/p>\n
State TV\u2019s English-language Press TV earlier reported a weapon recovered from the scene of the attack bore \u201cthe logo and specifications of the Israeli military industry.\u201d State TV\u2019s Arabic-language channel, Al-Alam, claimed the weapons used were \u201ccontrolled by satellite,\u201d a claim also made Sunday by the semiofficial Fars news agency.<\/p>\n
None of the outlets immediately offered evidence supporting their claims.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, the operation was a very complicated operation and was carried out by using electronic devices,\u201d Shamkhani told state TV. \u201cNo individual was present at the site.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shamkhani also blamed the Iranian exile group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq as well for \u201chaving a role in this,\u201d without elaborating. The MEK did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
Monday\u2019s service for Fakhrizadeh took place at an outdoor portion of Iran\u2019s Defense Ministry in Tehran, with officials including Revolutionary Guard chief Gen. Hossein Salami, the Guard\u2019s Quds Force leader Gen. Esmail Ghaani, civilian nuclear program chief Ali Akbar Sahei and Intelligence Minister Mamoud Alavi. They sat apart from each other and wore masks due to the coronavirus pandemic as reciters melodically read portions of the Quran and religious texts.<\/p>\n
Defense Minister Gen. Amir Hatami gave a speech after kissing Fakhrizadeh\u2019s casket and putting his forehead against it. He said Fakhrizadeh\u2019s killing would make Iranians \u201cmore united, more determined.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the continuation of your path, we will continue with more speed and more power,\u201d Hatami said in comments aired live by state television.<\/p>\n
Hatami also criticized countries that hadn\u2019t condemned Fakhrizadeh\u2019s killing, warning: \u201cThis will catch up with you someday.\u201d Overnight, the United Arab Emirates, which just reached a normalization deal with Israel, issued a statement condemning \u201cthe heinous assassination.\u201d The UAE, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, warned it \u201ccould further fuel conflict in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, the UAE found itself in the middle of an escalating series of incidents between Iran and the U.S. Though long suspicious of Iran\u2019s nuclear program, the Emirates has said it wants to de-escalate the crisis. The UAE just started passenger air service to Israel and Israelis are expected to vacation in the country over Hanukkah in the coming days.<\/p>\n
Hatami also called the nuclear arsenal of the U.S. \u2014 and the stockpile of atomic bombs Israel long has been suspected of holding \u2014 \u201cthe most dangerous threat against humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mourners later buried Fakhrizadeh in the courtyard of Imamzadeh Saleh mosque in north Tehran.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
International Desk: A top Iranian security official on Monday accused Israel of using \u201celectronic devices\u201d to remotely kill a scientist who founded the Islamic Republic\u2019s military nuclear program in the 2000s. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the country\u2019s Supreme National Security Council, made the comment at the funeral for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, where Iran\u2019s defense minister […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":64421,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2,14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n