An Iranian nuclear scientists was recently assassinated, creating waves across the diplomatic world as Iran has accused the U.S. and Israel of involvement in the plot.
the bombing was the latest in a string of attacks in Iran targeting top nuclear officials. Two years ago, a nuclear physics professor was killed when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded outside his home. Several months after that, a pair of car bombings killed one nuclear scientist and wounded another while they were driving to work. In both cases, Iranian officials pinned the deaths on the U.S. and Israel.
Iran has been continuing a uranium enrichment program despite calls from the West for it to stop enriching nuclear material. Western diplomats fear that Iran is using the material to try to create a nuclear bomb, which poses a major threat to nearby countries like Israel.
Other attempts have been made to try to sabotage Iran's nuclear program in the past; in 2010, computers at Iranian nuclear facilities were infected by the so-called Stuxnet virus. It disrupted controls on centrifuges, the machines used to enrich uranium. And this past November, an explosion destroyed part of a missile testing site near the town of Bid Kaneh. Iranian officials called it an accident.
Quotes
"I want to categorically deny any United States involvement in any kind of act of violence inside Iran." - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
"So-called advocates of fighting terrorism have picked up weapons. And we will remove this mask and devilish cover from their face and reveal their identity." - Mohamed Reza Rahimi, Iranian first vice president
Warm Up Questions
1. Where is Iran? What part of the world is Iran in?
2. What do you know about the relationship between Iran and the U.S.?
3. What does the word nuclear mean?
Discussion Questions
1. Do you think the Iranians should be allowed to continue refining nuclear material? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think Iran is accusing the U.S. and Israel of involvement in this assassination? Why is Iran at odds with the U.S. and Israel?
3. What options does the U.S. have to enforce its policies toward Iran? Why is this a tricky situation diplomatically?
Additional Resources
