November 14, 2011
Israel said to be behind blast that killed Iranian missile expert
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Iranians carry a picture and coffin of Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a Revolutionary guards commander, who was killed during a blast in a military base, in Tehran (Nov. 14). Photo by REUTERS/Jamejam Online/Ebrahim Norouzi
Israel was behind an explosion in an Iranian ammunition depot that killed a missile expert, Western intelligence officials are saying.
At least 16 other Revolutionary Guard members were killed in Saturday’s explosion, which Iranian officials say was an accident. But no one is saying what Gen. Hasan Moghaddam, the father of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile systems and long-range missiles, was doing at the site at the time of the explosion.
Time Magazine reported Sunday that Western intelligence sources believe that Israel’s Mossad was behind the blast.
“Don’t believe the Iranians that it was an accident,” an unnamed Western official was quoted as telling Time.
The official reportedly added that other sabotage is being planned to hamper Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon. “There are more bullets in the magazine,” the official told Time.
Israeli officials said they don’t know what caused the blast.
