While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for killing top Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, anonymous Israeli officials speaking to the press are eager to take credit.
An anonymous Israeli official speaking to The New York Times said the world should thank Israel for assassinating top Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
The Times described its source as “a senior Israeli official involved for years in tracking Mr. Fakhrizadeh for Israel.” The official said Israel “would continue to act against the Iranian nuclear program as necessary.”
Fakhrizadeh’s killing came at a time of heightened tensions in the region between the US and Iran. Earlier this month, a report said President Trump reviewed options to attack an Iranian nuclear site but was talked out of pulling the trigger by his senior advisors.
The report said President Trump left other options open to hit Iran’s nuclear program, which raises questions about Washington’s foreknowledge of Fakhrizadeh’s assassination.
Both the Trump administration and Israel are keen to sabotage a future Biden administration’s efforts to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The Trump administration is planning to slap new sanctions on Iran every week until Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20th.
For their part, the Iranians are exercising caution and say they will not fall into a trap that would scuttle future negotiations with the US.
