AI-powered weapon used in assassination of Iranian scientist

A senior IRGC commander provided more details of the recent assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist and researcher Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, pointing to the use of a smart satellite-controlled machine gun using Artificial Intelligence.

According to Tasnim news agency, addressing a cultural event in the University of Tehran on Sunday, IRGC Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said the distinguished figure was assassinated in an unmanned operation on November 27.

No hit man was present at the scene of the strike, he noted, saying a machine gun equipped with a “satellite-controlled smart system” and installed on a pickup had fired a total of 13 shots in the attack.

All other bullets were fired by the body guards, Rear Admiral Fadavi noted.

The smart system controlling the machine gun had zeroed in on Dr. Fakhrizadeh and utilized Artificial Intelligence, the Rear Admiral stated.

He said the purpose of exploding the gun-laden pickup after the shootout was to martyr the 11 IRGC servicemen accompanying the scientist.

The head of the security team was shot after shielding Fakhrizadeh from bullets, Fadavi said, adding that the nuclear scientist and researcher was ultimately martyred due to a gunshot wound in his back and spinal cord amputation.

Asked about Iran’s response to the American assassination of top Commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani in early January, the IRGC deputy chief said, “We will choose how to take revenge.”

The IRGC has gained such a great power that the enemy is seeking deterrence in the face of Iran, he added.

Fakhrizadeh, a senior nuclear and defense scientist and researcher, was assassinated in a small city east of Tehran on November 27.

Last week, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in a complicated operation that involved electronic equipment without any assassin at the scene.

ME