Assassinated Iranian nuclear scientist awarded top honour
An assassinated nuclear scientists has been awarded Iran's top honour by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was posthumously awarded the Order of Nasr ("Victory" in Persian) on Sunday.
Fakhrizadeh was killed on a major road outside Tehran in late November in a bomb and gun attack that the Islamic republic has blamed on its arch foe Israel.
The broadcaster said the award, bearing Khamenei's signature, was handed to the scientist's family by the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri.
"This is a decoration meant for dear ones who defend the Islamic revolution and Iran's territorial integrity and independence," Bagheri said.
He added that it is the highest medal awarded in recognition of logistics contribution and support of the troops.
After Fakhrizadeh's death, Defence Minister Amir Hatami referred to him as his deputy minister and head of the ministry's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), focusing on the field of "nuclear defence".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged in 2018 that Fakhrizadeh was the head of a secret nuclear weapons programme, the existence of which the Islamic republic has always denied.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
