Assassination of Iranian Nuclear Scientist... Dark Clouds Over President-Elect Biden's Foreign Policy

Iran Nuclear Scientist Assassinated Near Tehran
Iran Suspects Israeli Involvement
US Media Express Concerns Over Biden's Return to Iran Nuclear Deal
Trump Retweets Israeli Expert Opinions Showing Interest

Deceased Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] A scientist who led Iran's nuclear development program was assassinated on the 27th (local time), according to local state TV broadcasts. U.S. media are closely monitoring the potential impact of this incident on U.S.-Iran relations ahead of the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration.

On the day, Iran's state TV reported, citing its own sources, that Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated.

Iran's Fars News Agency reported that the assassination attack took place in Absard, a small town near the capital Tehran. The agency introduced eyewitness accounts stating that first an explosion was heard, followed by the sound of machine gun fire.

The New York Times, citing Iranian media, reported that Fakhrizadeh was shot and killed while traveling by car. The AP News reported that Fakhrizadeh was ambushed.

Fakhrizadeh was transported to a hospital but ultimately died.

The scene of the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

In this regard, the New York Times reported that Fakhrizadeh had long been tracked by U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies due to his involvement in Iran's secret nuclear development program.

U.S. media paid close attention to the potential impact of this incident. There were concerns about the possibility of a repeat of the heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran following the assassination of Qasem Soleimani earlier this year.

Iran immediately suspected Israel. According to AP News, Iran's Foreign Minister mentioned that there are significant signs indicating that this assassination was carried out by Israel. Israel refused to comment on this, but AP News recalled that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had once said, "Remember the name Fakhrizadeh." The agency also reported that there is circumstantial evidence that Israel has previously assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists.

According to the Times, U.S. officials avoided commenting on the Fakhrizadeh assassination while gathering information. However, the Times reported that some U.S. officials claimed the assassination would send a stern message to other scientists involved in Iran's nuclear program.

The New York Times assessed that regardless of who assassinated Fakhrizadeh, this is an issue that could have wide-ranging effects on the Biden administration.

The Times predicted that, as with the Soleimani assassination, there would be significant backlash in Iran, which could complicate President-elect Biden's efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal. AP News also noted that this incident could influence Biden's course of action.

Israel opposes the next administration reversing the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, which was pursued by the Donald Trump administration.

President Trump showed interest by retweeting an article by Israeli journalist Yossi Melman about this incident. Melman mentioned on Twitter that this assassination would deliver a significant psychological and practical blow to Iran.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.