"Iran's Zarif blames Israel for assassination of top nuclear scientist," wrote The Jerusalem Post. Local reports claim it was a death by a suicide bomber in Tehran.
Leading Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh-Mahavadi was fatally injured in an ambush on his car outside the capital Tehran on Friday, before dying from his injuries in hospital, Iran’s Defense Ministry has confirmed.
“Unfortunately, the medical team did not succeed in reviving him, and a few minutes ago, this manager and scientist achieved the high status of martyrdom after years of effort and struggle,” the statement said. -RT
What I find interesting in regards to this story is that for the past week there was a number of reports claiming that the American President Donald Trump is preparing to strike at Iran.
The narrative being, that the madman that Trump is in the eyes of his enemies, would start a fresh new war just to spite everyone on his way out of the White House.
The problem with this narrative is, that it doesn't conform with reality. Trump is a bussinessman, not a warrior. He doesn't like to be pushed, and is willing to push back, but he's not an idiot who would start something while knowing that area is not his forte.
If we recall the death of Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Qasem Soleimani back in January 2020. Before there was a drone strike on Soleimani while he was visiting in Iraq, there was a Twitter spat between Trump and Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei.
Khamenei challenged Trump. "That guy has tweeted that we see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad & we will respond to Iran. 1st: You can’t do anything. 2nd: If you were logical —which you’re not— you’d see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan… have made nations hate you."
Two days later, Soleimani was dead.
I don't believe Khamenei ticked off Trump so much, that he ordered a drone strike on the most prominent commander of RGC. I think Trump is rather reluctant when it comes to shedding blood. But at that point he was already three years in just threatening, and then doing nothing. This time there were no threats, just a clear message. Soleimani's death was a big hit for Iran, but nothing to start a war over. Short local escalation later, and we were back to square one. And no war.
Now we have a dead top nuclear scientist. Killed by a suicide bomber. This does strike me as something Israel would do. Especially in light of recent reports by Axios:
The Israel Defense Forces have in recent weeks been instructed to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. will conduct a military strike against Iran before President Trump leaves office, senior Israeli officials tell me.
Sure, IDF is preparing for a possibility that the U.S. will conduct a military strike against Iran AFTER Trump was reportedly already dissuaded of attacking Iran’s uranium enrichment facility in Natanz by senior members of his national security team.
Looks to me like someone was diverting attention to Trump in order to get their own thing done. Iran's greatest enemy in the region is certainly not the U.S. The Americans are slowly but surely leaving, albeit with the speed of an ice glacier.
The Isrealis on the other hand are there to stay. And as NYT put it: "Ever since, the Pentagon has revised its strike plans multiple times. It now has traditional military as well as cyberoptions, and some that combine the two. Some involve direct action by Israel."
Now, does Isreal want to start a war with Iran? Yes, and no. Imagine a kid brother who starts a fight only to hide behind his big brother when push comes to shove. Israel wants Iran in war, in a vulnerabe and weakened state. They just don't want to be the ones to be seen pulling the trigger. Its all much easier if USA gets the blame, while they profit but I think the Israeli miscalculated here. Considering Netanyahu already congratulated Biden on his victory, they are making plans with the return of warhawks in mind.
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