Iran Lays to Rest Nuclear Scientist as It Mulls Response

By Staff, Agencies

The Islamic Republic of Iran was on Monday laying to rest one of its top nuclear scientists, as it weighed how and when to retaliate for an assassination pinned on arch-foe ‘Israel.’

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the ‘Israeli’ occupation entity of acting as Washington's mercenary in comments he made on the assassination of professor Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, whom the Zionist entity has dubbed the "father" of Iran's nuclear weapons program.

Fakhrizadeh was martyred on Friday after sustaining serious injuries when terrorists targeted his car and engaged in a gunfight with his bodyguards outside Tehran.

The funeral got underway with a large display showing the picture of the martyred scientist next to Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei and former top anti-terror commander martyr Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani who was assassinated by a US drone while on an official visit to Baghdad earlier this year.

In wake of the terrorist attack, Iran's parliament on Sunday demanded a halt to international inspections of nuclear sites in the country.

The Supreme National Security Council usually handles decisions related to the country's nuclear program, and parliamentary bills must be approved by the powerful Guardians Council.

Rouhani stressed that Iran will seek its revenge for the assassination in "due time" and not be rushed into a "trap", with less than two months to go before US President Donald Trump leaves office after four hawkish years at the White House.

US President-elect Joe Biden promised a return to diplomacy with Iran, after Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and began reimposing crippling sanctions.