Khamenei Calls for 'Definitive Punishment' In Revenge For Slain Scientist

Iran

November 28th, 12:36pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks live on television after casting his ballot in the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 12, 2009. REUTERS/Caren Firouz/File Photo

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised on Saturday to retaliate for the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist and said his nuclear work would continue. In a statement published on Khamenei's official site, he described Mohsen Fakhrizadeh as “the country’s prominent and distinguished nuclear and defensive scientist.” Khamenei further stressed that Iran’s first priority after the killing was the “definitive punishment of the perpetrators and those who ordered it.” Earlier Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani blamed Israel for the killing. Rouhani said that Fakhrizadeh’s death would not stop its nuclear program, which was reiterated by Khamenei as well. We will respond to the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh in a proper time,” Rouhani said. He added: “The Iranian nation is smarter than falling into the trap of the Zionists. They are thinking to create chaos.” Iran’s civilian nuclear program has continued its experiments and now enriches uranium up to 4.5%, far below weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to The Associated Press.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2652211/khamenei-calls-definitive-punishment-revenge-slain-scientist