Kuwait Times

Published Date: January 19, 2010

TEHRAN: Iran vowed yesterday to take revenge on Israel and the United States for the slaying last week of a physics professor in a mysterious bomb attack, the official news agency reported. Iranian officials have blamed the bombing on an exiled opposition group known as the People's Mujahedeen, accusing it of acting on behalf of Israel and the US. The armed opposition group and Washington have denied involvement, while Israel has not commented.

A week after Masoud Ali Mohammadi's death, it remains unclear why the 50-year-old Tehran University professor would have been a target for assassins who left a bomb-rigged motorcycle outside his home on Jan. 12. Ali Mohammadi had no prominent political voice, no published work with military relevance and no declared links to Iran's nuclear program, though his work included some aspects of nuclear theory.

Rest assured that Iran will take revenge for the blood of martyr Ali Mohammadi from you," Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said, addressing Israel and the US. "Such a blind move, which is the result of acts by the Mossad, the CIA and enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran's system, shows their weakness," Najjar said. His comments were reported by the official IRNA news agency. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described the assassination as having been carried out in a "Zionist style", saying i
t showed their "grudge" against the Iranian nation.

Key figures among both Iran's pro-reform opposition and hardline government supporters have condemned the professor's killing. Ali Mohammadi had few apparent links outside the academic community. He was not known to have any key roles in the opposition movement, although his name appeared on a university petition pledging support for pro-reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi before June's disputed presidential election. Mousavi claimed he was deprived of the presidency through fraud, triggering months of st
reet protests and a harsh crackdown by the authorities.

Ali Mohammadi's assassination took place at a time of high tension in Iran, as authorities grapple with how to contain a resilient opposition movement that has moved from just challenging the election result to confronting Iran's clerical leadership. Iran has accused the West - and Britain in particular - of fomenting the unrest, and yesterday it warned is reconsidering its ties with the country. Britain denies interfering. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the ties have been under a "magnifying gla
ss" over the past six months. He did not elaborate.

Also yesterday, Iran's judiciary put five people on trial over their alleged roles in anti-government protests in December that sparked the worst street violence in months. If found guilty, they could face the death penalty. The five, who were not identified, have been accused of cooperating with the People's Mujahedeen, the same group Iran is blaming for the bombing that killed the professor. A broadcast on state TV from inside the courtroom showed the defendants, but their faces were not visible. At l
east eight people died in the clashes late last month between security forces and opposition supporters across Iran, including a nephew of Mousavi, the opposition leader.

It was the worst bloodshed since the height of the unrest immediately after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election. A prosecutor read out a lengthy indictment against the five, accusing them of a crime against Islam and the state known as moharebeh, which is punishable by death. The word is Farsi for defying God. The June election has polarized Iran, with moderates withdrawing support for or being dismissed by the hardline government and others resigning in protest.

Among those resigning was an Iranian diplomat in Norway. Mottaki urged the diplomat, Mohammad Reza Heidari, to get back to service. Mottaki said yesterday that his resignation was not acceptable and that "he should continue his job either in Norway or the ministry". Heidari told Voice of America's Farsi service Sunday that he resigned to protest the bloody crackdown against the opposition. VOA said he has defected to Norway.

Meanwhile, Iranian opposition groups flooded the Web yesterday with calls for a massive show of force during next month's anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, openly taunting authorities who have warned of a punishing response to any disruptions of the most hallowed day in the Iranian political calendar. The blitz of messages and videos on opposition sites and social networking forums highlighted the continued ability of anti-government forces to harness the Internet despite attempts by Iranian official
s to cripple their Web outreach.

It also suggested that the Feb 11 commemorations could become a replay of the street battles that have marked other major political and religious dates in past months that anti-government protesters have used to challenge the ruling system. In the latest violence, at least eight people died in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters across Iran in late December, including a nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

The barrage of opposition Web postings picked up steam yesterday with some drawing parallels between the current showdowns against Iran's Islamic leaders and the 1979 groundswell that toppled the Western-backed monarchy. One video featured patriotic music with scenes from 1979 and the demonstrations that began with claims of vote-rigging in last June's presidential election. "Countrymen, rise up," read one message by the opposition blog Balatarin.com. "Victory is near.

The blog included a calendar marking the dates of the large opposition marches since June and pointing ahead to plans for upcoming protests - the next being timed to coincide the government's Feb 11 events that culminate with a huge political gathering in Tehran's Azadi Square. Iranian authorities have warned opposition groups that security forces would crush any protests on the anniversary, claiming riot police and hardline militias have shown restraint so far despite using clubs, teargas and gunfire.

Web posts urged government opponents to expand their campaign of graffiti and writing slogans on money. Dozens of messages called for protesters to pour onto the streets on Feb 11 - which marks the day the last security forces of the shah collapsed. "Unite, fight, victory," said one blog. Another proclaimed: "I will get my country back." The blog IlovemyIran.wordpress.com made suggestions for slogans to chant at the next rally. They included: "Our nation is awake." - AP