Iran’s N-expert killed in blast; Israel, US blamed

Nov 30, 2010 |

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Tehran, Nov. 29: Twin blasts in Iran’s capital killed a top nuclear scientist and wounded another on Monday.

Tehran swiftly blamed the CIA and Mossad for the attacks apparently carried out by men on motorcycles.

The slain scientist Majid Shahriari and Dr Fereydoon Abbasi Davani, who survived the attack, were senior figures in Iran’s nuclear programme, which the West suspects of having military aims. Tehran has been denying the charge.

The attacks came after diplomatic cables that whistleblower website WikiLeaks released on Sunday revealed that Saudi Arabia’s king “repeatedly” urged Washington to take military action against Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The Tehran police chief, Mr Hossein Sajedi-nia, said the scientists were targeted on their way to work in two different parts of the capital by men on motorcycles who attached bombs to their cars.

“Dr Shahriari was killed and his wife and driver were injured. Dr. Abbasi and his wife have been injured,” he was quoted as saying in media reports.

Iran’s presidential office and interior minister accused the US and Israeli intelligence services, the CIA and Mossad, of killing the two who were also professors at Tehran’s prestigious Shahid Beheshti University.

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