Iran has arrested the killers of two of its nuclear scientists, state media reported yesterday, as the Islamic state continues to hunt down those it says are responsible for attempting to sabotage its nuclear programme.
The suspects are accused of assassinating a physicist at Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation and a deputy director at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility using magnetic bombs that were attached to the vehicles they were in.
Tehran has accused Israel and the United States of plotting the killings to set back its nuclear programme. Washington has denied any role, while Israel declined to comment.
Atomic energy organisation physicist Majid Shahriari was killed in 2010 and Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan in January 2012.
“The key perpetrators of the assassinations . . . were identified and, in a series of rapid and authoritative operations, were arrested and transferred to detention facilities,” said an intelligence ministry statement, published by Press TVs website.
Iran denies western accusations that it is developing a nuclear weapons capability, saying it simply wants to generate electricity and radio isotopes for medical treatment.
Tehran is due to hold talks with world powers in Moscow on June 18th -19th. At least four scientists associated with Irans nuclear programme have been assassinated since 2010. – (Reuters)