Car bombs kill Iranian nuclear expert

[Rhiannon12866]

Source: USA Today

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Two assailants on a motorcycle attached magnetic bombs to the car of an Iranian university professor working at a key nuclear facility, killing him and another person Wednesday, state TV reported. The slayings suggest a widening covert effort to set back Iran's atomic program.

The attack in Tehran bore a strong resemblance to earlier killings of scientists working on the Iranian nuclear program. It is certain to amplify authorities' claims of clandestine operations by Western powers and their allies to halt Iran's nuclear advances.

The bomb killed Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a chemistry expert and a director of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran, state TV reported. Natanz is Iran's main enrichment site, but officials claimed earlier this week that they are expanding some operations to an underground site south of Tehran with more advanced equipment.

The U.S. and its allies are pressuring Iran to halt uranium enrichment, a key element of the nuclear program that the West suspects is aimed at producing atomic weapons. Uranium enriched to low levels can be used as nuclear fuel but at higher levels, it can be used as material for a nuclear warhead.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-01-11/iran-nuclear-expert/52494192/1

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Story includes video

[backtoblue]

1. thank you rhiannon!

Thanks for keeping this old place "alive" with the news! :hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I'm used to coming to LBN to get my news, so I've been posting stories we might miss here.

Sounds kind of crazy, since when I was first on DU, it was next to impossible to post a major LBN story before Khephra. *sigh* :hi:

[pettypace]

2. Finally payback for 1986 Pan Am

Wait that was Libya.

Ok so payback for 2001 Sept. Shit that was Iraq.


Well anyway I'm sure they earned it for some dastardly deed. Hooray!

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. CIA/Mossad are playing a dangerous game with this continued terrorism..

I suspect the Wahhabi dictators in the Gulf are offering a bit of support in these criminal operations as well.

[DataException]

4. Good deal! n/t

[ooglymoogly]

6. Just stumbled back onto this place....

to late to Rec. Glad its still here and glad folks are still keeping it alive. Kudos

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Iran nuclear expert buried as Russia warns on sanctions

The funeral of a nuclear scientist killed in a targeted car bomb attack is taking place in Tehran.

Thousands are attending Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan's funeral, state TV reports.

His death has further stoked tensions between Iran and the US and its allies who fear Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Russia has warned that new sanctions and any military action against Iran over its nuclear programme would be seen as regime change.

Iran has blamed the US and Israel for the killing of the 32-year-old scientist, allegations they deny.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to punish those behind the death of Mr Ahmadi-Roshan, who worked at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16543152