"Israel behind assassination of Fakhrizadeh," CNN quotes US official

New Delhi: The CNN network of the United States of America quoted an unidentified White House official saying Israel was behind the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

However, the official refused to acknowledge whether the US administration was in privy to the action.

The official said that Israel used to inform the US administration about its attacks before implementing. However, the official said, it is unknown whether the practice was followed this time. He also acknowledged that Fakhrizadeh has been targeted by Israel for a long time.

Meanwhile, Iran reiterated of its imminent revenge against the assassination and accused Israel behind the act.

Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zariff said that there is an attempt to create tension in the region on behalf of US and Israel before the leaving of President Trump.

Fakhrizadeh, a top nuclear and military scientist, was killed on Friday, through remote-controlled machine gun attack near Tehran in broad daylight.

Iran has been accusing Israel, behind the attack, which has not so far countered the allegation.