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TEHRAN, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian high-ranking nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhri Zadeh was assassinated near capital Tehran on Friday by "armed terrorists," Iran's Ministry of Defense announced.

Photo: Agencies

Local media reported that Fakhri Zadeh, head of the defense ministry's nuclear program, was attacked in the afternoon in Absard village, 60 km northeast of Tehran.

Eyewitnesses said a blast occurred when the scientist's vehicle was traveling on a street of the village, then a shooting took place where several people were killed.

The scientist was severely injured and taken to a hospital, but the medical team failed to rescue him, the ministry added.