Revealed: The Remote-Controlled Assassination of Iranian Nuclear Scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh

New details have emerged regarding the assassination of senior Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, an operation attributed to Israel's Mossad spy agency. Though Israel has never publicly acknowledged its involvement, the Jerusalem Post recently reported key aspects of the November 27, 2020, incident, confirming Tehran’s suspicions. According to the report, Fakhrizadeh was initially shot while seated in his vehicle. In an effort to ensure he was dead, operatives continued to shoot at him even after he exited and attempted to flee. His death followed shortly thereafter, aligning with the accounts provided by Iranian officials. Iran's Major General Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, stated that the assassination was executed using a remote-controlled machine gun connected to a satellite system. Israeli intelligence sources later corroborated the existence of a weapon that matched this description—a US-made M240C 7.62mm machine gun—which was reportedly smuggled into Iran in parts. This weapon was assembled over an eight-month period by a team of approximately 20 Mossad operatives. The machine gun was mounted in a blue Zamyad pickup truck parked along Imam Khomeini Street in Tehran and operated remotely. This tactical decision was made to minimize the risk posed to Fakhrizadeh's wife, who was traveling with him during the attack. Additionally, a second vehicle equipped with surveillance cameras was used to confirm the scientist's identity seconds before the ambush was launched. While these claims cannot be independently verified, they suggest a meticulously planned operation against a figure long regarded by Western and Israeli intelligence as pivotal to Iran's nuclear program. Following his assassination, Iranian authorities declared Fakhrizadeh a martyr and honored him with a state funeral. The Mossad had considered targeting him as far back as 2009 during Meir Dagan's tenure as director, but previous debates about the feasibility of such an operation delayed action. Reports indicated that by 2020, while Fakhrizadeh's operational role was perceived as more replaceable, his strategic significance remained robust, providing access to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Fakhrizadeh's assassination is believed to have set back Iran's nuclear ambitions significantly, potentially delaying the state's progress by months or even years, while simultaneously enhancing Israel's covert operational and intelligence capabilities. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2