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On Friday, November 27, Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed after his car was apparently ambushed in a district east of Tehran.

Photos from the scene showed his bulletproof car, with the windshield shattered. There was blood on the road beside it.

Iranian state media reported that his death was an assassination, with his vehicle targeted by gunfire and a car explosion before a gunfight ensued.

Per CNN, Foreign Minister Zarif called the death “cowardice – with serious indications of Israeli role”.

This has not been confirmed, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has refused to comment on the allegations.

Fakhrizadeh was head of the Research Centre of New Technology in the elite Revolutionary Guards, where he had been working on Iran’s nuclear program for a number of years.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and others have promised revenge, reports CNN.

Since Friday’s attack, new details have come to light surrounding the manner in which he was killed.

Fakhrizadeh was travelling with his wife, alongside three security vehicles. He exited the car when bullets struck it to see what was going on.

Upon exiting the vehicle, and in a scene reminiscent of a Bond film, he was fired upon by a remote-controlled machine gun attached to a Nissan vehicle nearby.

Image: Getty

According to Defense Minister Amir Hatami:

“Based on reports received from members of his security detail, Mr. Fakhrizadeh’s vehicle was initially targeted by gunfire, after which a Nissan vehicle laden with explosives was set off in close proximity to them as gunfire, targeting their vehicle, was continuing,” Hatami said, according to ISNA.

Supreme Leader Khameini wrote Saturday on a Twitter:

“Mr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed by the oppressive enemies. This rare scientific mind lost his life for his everlasting great scientific work. He lost his life for God and the supreme leader.”

President Hassan Rouhani has said that the killing was carried out by “the filthy hands of oppressors, in concert with the illegitimate Zionist regime”.

Note, again, that these statements reflect the unverified opinions of Iranian leaders and Iranian-run news agencies.

The killing has prompted protests in Tehran, and could impact already tense relations with America which have deteriorated during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Protesters burned Israeli flags and images of Trump and President-elect Joe Biden.

Many of the facts surrounding the killing have not been confirmed, and investigations are still ongoing.

[sources:cnn&cnn]