Chronology Of The Death Of An Iranian Nuclear Scientist To The Threat Of Iranian Retaliatory Attacks On Israel

JAKARTA - The famous Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was killed while he was in eastern Tehran. The Iranian government accuses Israel of being behind the attack. After that, there was a discourse that there would be an Iranian counterattack against the Jewish-majority country.

As reported by the Fars News news agency, Fakhrizadeh was known to have been shot by a remotely controlled machine gun. But there are many versions of reports of how the top nuclear scientist in Iran died.

First, a report from the news agency Fars News said Fakhrizadeh was traveling with his wife in a bulletproof car with three vehicles of security personnel. Just then he heard a sound like a bullet hitting the vehicle, then got out of the car to find out what had happened.

As Fakhrizadeh got out, a remotely controlled machine gun opened fire from the Nissan car which stopped about 150 meters from the scientist's car. He then received at least three shots. His bodyguard was also shot. After the shot, the Nissan car exploded.

Then the second report came from the Semi-official Iranian Students News Agency. The media said Fakhrizadeh's car was initially hit by more gunfire, then followed by an explosion. The Iranian students cited Iranian Defense Minister General Amir Hatami as their source.

"Based on reports received from members of its safety details, Fakhrizadeh's vehicle was initially subjected to gunfire, after which a Nissan vehicle loaded with explosives was detonated near them as gunfire, targeting their vehicle, continued," Hatami said, as quoted by the news agency. Iranian student.

Then the third, the report came from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, a state television station. The report said the car explosion occurred first, then was followed by gunfire from the attackers.

Top Iranian officials, as quoted by CNN, accuse Israel of being the actor who has controlled these long-range weapons. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials vowed revenge for the death of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who is the country's chief nuclear scientist.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, also promised retaliation for the death of the top Iranian imuwan. He conveyed this during a cabinet meeting held on Saturday, November 28.

"Think tanks and enemies of Iran must know that the Iranian nation and the officials responsible in that country are brave. And determined to kill them in a timely manner," said Hassan.

In line with Iran's supreme leader, Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran's Strategic Council for Foreign Relations, also threatened to pay a price for the attack. "There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran will give a calculated and resolute answer to the criminals who killed Fakhrizadeh," Kharrazi said.

Losing Fakhrizadeh was a major blow to Iran. The reason is, he is the head of the new technology research center in the Revolutionary Guards and is a leading figure in Iran's nuclear program. His ability was even recognized by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the US State Department, which said Fakhrizadeh had deep insight into Iran's nuclear capabilities.

In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu said Fakhrizadeh was the head of the Amad Project, which he described as a covert nuclear weapons endeavor. "Remember that name, Fakhrizadeh," said Netanyahu.

For the attack, the hardline Iranian newspaper Kayhan, whose editor-in-chief is close to the Iranian leadership, said that Iran should attack the port city of Haifa in Israel as a form of revenge. Haifa, Israel's third largest city, is home to a major port and a power plant.

Kayhan also suggested that Iran carry out each attack in a way that destroys facilities and also causes heavy casualties. Kayhan published an article written by Iranian analyst Sadollah Zarei, who said the attack on Haifa must be bigger than an Iranian ballistic missile attack on US forces in Iraq.

Attacking the Israeli city of Haifa and killing a large number of people "would certainly lead to deterrence, because the US and the Israeli regime and its agents are completely unprepared to take part in war and military confrontation," Zarei wrote.

Although Kayhan is a small circulation newspaper, Kayhan's editor-in-chief, Hossein Shariatmadari, was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Shariatmadari is described as an advisor to the Ayatollah in the past.