Iran: 'Mossad assassin' reveals training methods

Man Tehran says was behind nuclear scientist's assassination tells Iranian TV of how he was taken to guarded facility outside Tel Aviv, trained in explosives, surveillance

Dudi Cohen|Published: 01.10.11 , 21:23

A man suspected of spying for Israel and assassinating an Iranian nuclear scientist was exposed on Iranian television Monday.

The suspect, Majid Jamali Fesh (28), said he had visited Tel Aviv and met with senior Israeli security officials. He also said he was trained in explosives.

The man, who Iran claims is a Mossad agent, did not say in the television interview when he visited Tel Aviv. "I was taught how to follow people, avoid being followed myself, and how to plant bombs on the bottom of under cars," he said.

The suspect, who was referred to as a "terrorist" by Iranian TV, said, "We traveled from Tel Aviv along the fast highway to Jerusalem, and a half-hour later we reached the headquarters."

The suspect described the facility as being surrounded by a 3-4 kilometer (1.9-2.5 mile) wall with numerous cameras installed on it. He did not specifically mention Mossad during the interview.

The suspect also said that during his stay at the facility outside Tel Aviv he was given the home address of Iranian nuclear scientist Masoud Ali-Mohammadi and details about the neighborhood, "so that I would be completely familiar with the area and the operational conditions of the assassination."

Earlier Monday, Iranian television reported that authorities had arrested a "network of spies" linked to Israel's intelligence service. Iran said the network was behind the assassination of Ali-Mohammadi.

A remote-controlled bomb killed the Tehran University scientist in the Iranian capital on January 12, 2010.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the scientist was killed in 'Zionist style' and promised to avenge his death.

"We uncovered important and sensitive information and espionage teams and Mossad operations, and as a result we dealt a major blow to the Zionist regime's intelligence and security organizations," state television quoted a statement issued by the Intelligence Ministry as saying.