"Iran's top nuclear scientist was killed Friday in an alleged assassination that the country's foreign minister linked to Israel.
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, considered one of the masterminds of Iran's controversial nuclear program, died after his car was apparently ambushed in a district east of Tehran. Photos from the scene showed the shattered windshield of a car, and blood on the road."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/27/middleeast/iran-top-nuclear-scientist-killed-intl/index.html
It seems quite likely this was a murder performed and/or ordered by the government of Israel. Fakhrizadeh was the subject of a not too subtle threat by Netanyahu about two years ago:
"In April 2018, Netanyahu mentioned Fakhrizadeh by name when he unveiled a nuclear archive he said Mossad agents had taken from Tehran. He called him the head of a secret nuclear project called Project Amad. "Remember that name, Fakhrizadeh," Netanyahu told reporters."
Why kill him now? Was the US involved in any way? We know that Joe Biden has pledged to re-enter the nuclear deal with Iran that Trump took the US out of and that hardliners here and in Israel hate - they want the Iranian regime toppled, not any negotiations with it. Of course, murdering scientists is a rather extreme measure but is there any doubt that someone like Trump wouldn't authorize it and/or support Israel doing it?
Where to now?
Is Trump really worth mentioning? I don't see what's in it for him at this point to be involved. Trump has no particular ideology other than himself; any favors he does is with personal gain in mind.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, has always maintained popularity by appealing to Israel's far right. If the Prime Minister was behind this, he is one of the world's most dangerous political figures, since (if he's behind the murder) it seems he will do anything to keep favor with his base.
I wonder if we will ever find out for sure.
EDIT: Actually, I wonder if the killing of Soleimani may have embolden the assassins.
@vivify saidIt's speculation, but he might be motivated by simple spite to try to sabotage Biden's bid for more normal relations with Iran.
Is Trump really worth mentioning? I don't see what's in it for him at this point to be involved. Trump has no particular ideology other than himself; any favors he does is with personal gain in mind.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, has always maintained popularity by appealing to Israel's far right. If the Prime Minister was behind this, he is one of the world's most da ...[text shortened]... t for sure.
EDIT: Actually, I wonder if the killing of Soleimani may have embolden the assassins.
Also, Kushner, his son in law and most influential adviser (without a last name of "Trump" ) is pretty fanatically pro-Israel and might push him to either order the murder himself or assist Israel in doing it.
@no1marauder saidI think it’s certainly the case that Israel is doing as much damage to Iran as they can before January 20th. I would say Trump bears some responsibility.
It's speculation, but he might be motivated by simple spite to try to sabotage Biden's bid for more normal relations with Iran.
Also, Kushner, his son in law and most influential adviser (without a last name of "Trump" ) is pretty fanatically pro-Israel and might push him to either order the murder himself or assist Israel in doing it.
@earl-of-trumps saidOn a forum full of moronity, you do excel in posting the dumbest solutions possible.
I think President Trump should drop a fat-ass bomb on Tel Aviv and tell that murdering Nazi, Netanyahu, that the United States is not going to fight the Jew war.
@no1marauder said*If* Trump was involved it could also be possible he was motivated by his business relationship with Saudi Arabia, which Kushner also has.
It's speculation, but he might be motivated by simple spite to try to sabotage Biden's bid for more normal relations with Iran.
Also, Kushner, his son in law and most influential adviser (without a last name of "Trump" ) is pretty fanatically pro-Israel and might push him to either order the murder himself or assist Israel in doing it.
Or, the Saudis may have carried out the hit themselves. They did kill Khashoggi, so it is something they're capable of.
The post that was quoted here has been removedJust spit-balling here, Duchy-poo. As No1 said, it's all speculative at this point, so I'm just throwing out suggestions. I'm not married to any ideas.
I'm well aware that the Saudi's committing an assassination isn't in line with their indirect proxy war model with Iran. I only brought up Khashoggi as evidence that the Saudis clearly have no problem going down such extreme paths.
The post that was quoted here has been removed(shrug). Okay, I'll abandon that idea.
In that post I also mentioned that *if* Trump was involved like he was with Soleimani, he could be motivated by his business relationship with the Saudis, which Kushner also has. I'm not ruling out Israel, just spit-balling here as well.
@no1marauder
Operatives employed by Mossad are the most likely culprits. The timing is clear, now that Biden is sure to assume the presidency in January. Biden has said that he would seek rapprochement with Iran. Israel does not seek rapprochement with Iran; Israel does not seek a diplomatic solution with Iran, but seeks rather to physically/technologically prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, hence a strike against Iran's nuclear research team prior to Biden's assumption of office probably seemed to Israeli intelligence to be opportune.