Mohsen Fakhrizadeh
The 59-year-old, considered the chief of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, was under U.S. sanctions at the time of his death.
The apparent Iranian attack on an Israeli-owned civilian cargo ship is a wider threat against shipping and comes as part of retaliation for the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist. Meanwhile, Iranian proxy warfare against the United States has returned to the region.
Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami hints that the lack of international response to the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh could lead Tehran to retaliate for the attack.
Former defense official Col. (res.) Udi Evental tells JNS that Tehran’s announcement that it has begun enriching uranium to a higher level is part of its signaling to the Biden administration.
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the U.S. military presence in the Middle East was an “important element in regional stability, which must be preserved.”
Independent Iran researcher Amir Toumaj said there is both a “general call for immediate retaliation and others pushing for a delayed response, arguing Tehran shouldn’t fall into a trap ahead of talks with the Biden administration.”
The message appears to be in reference to the recent assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in an operation widely attributed to Israel.
NSC’s Counter-Terrorism Division warns Israelis planning to travel overseas during the holiday season to take extra precautions in light of recent Iranian threats.
In Iran, the dilemma is growing with regard to how and where to respond to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s assassination, and how far to stretch the regime’s restraint.
“If they want sanctions relief, they know that they’re going to need to enter some kind of negotiation after January 20,” said U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Elliott Abrams.
“The enemies know and I, as a soldier, tell them that no crime, no terror and no stupid act will go unanswered by the Iranian people,” says Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami at Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s funeral.
Following the targeted killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in an operation widely attributed to Israel, Amman and Abu Dhabi, which have peace treaties with Jerusalem, call for “restraint” to avoid an “escalation of tensions.”
