Prominent Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated east of the capital Tehran on Friday, Iran’s defense ministry confirmed in a statement.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Fakhrizadeh died in hospital due to injuries sustained during a shoot-out between his bodyguards and “armed terrorists” Friday afternoon, the statement said.The statement described Fakhrizadeh as the head of the defense ministry’s “Research and Innovation Organization.”The defense ministry did not accuse any parties of involvement.The semi-official Tasnim news agency, as well as other Iranian outlets including the official IRIB news agency earlier reported the assassination, adding that he was reportedly killed in the city of Absard, 43 miles east of the Iranian capital.Fakhrizadeh has long been described by Western, Israeli andIranian exile foes of Iran's clerical rulers as a leader of a covert atomic bomb programme halted in 2003. Iran has long denied seeking to weaponise nuclear energy.With ReutersRead more:Iranian diplomat refuses to appear at bomb plot trial in Belgium: LawyerIranian diplomat, three others face trial in Belgium over suspected bomb plotTwitter suspends account of senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated: Ministry of Defense
