Former Iranian presidents say bomb attack on physics professor aimed at deepening crisis

Ex-Iran leaders: Professor killing ‘terrorism’

TEHRAN, Iran — Two former Iranian presidents on Wednesday condemned a bomb attack that killed a physics professor who had backed the nation’s opposition leader, calling the remote-controlled blast an act of terrorism that could deepen unrest and violence.

The separate statements by Mohammad Khatami and Hashemi Rafsanjani did not directly accuse any group for detonating the bomb-rigged motorcycle Tuesday that claimed the life of the 50-year-old researcher and lecturer, whose work included some aspects of nuclear theory.

But each honored Masoud Ali Mohammadi as a victim of terrorism.

The statements also added to the puzzling array of claims and clues following the attack.

Iranian officials quickly blamed an exile opposition group they claim has ties to the United States and Israel — charges strongly denied by the State Department. Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani repeated the claims against the United States on Wednesday.

A hard-line militia group, the Basij, also praised Ali Mohammadi as a martyr.

The professor, however, had few apparent links outside the academic community.

He was not known to have any key roles in the opposition movement, although his name appeared on a university petition pledging support for reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi before last June’s disputed election. The spokesman for Iran’s atomic energy agency said Ali Mohammadi had no involvement in Iran’s nuclear program.

Khatami, a strong Mousavi backer who has denounced the escalating crackdowns on opposition protesters, said the bomb attack was carried out by groups seeking to “further destabilize the crisis.”

In a statement of condolence to the professor’s wife posted on Khatami’s Web site, he said the “ugly face of terrorism” was behind the bombing. But he did not make any direct accusations.

“The dirty hand who did this murder with no doubt was the enemy of Iran,” wrote Khatami, whose 1997-2005 presidency was marked by efforts at widening Iran’s political and social freedoms.

Rafsanjani’s statement, carried by the semi-official ILNA news agency, called the bombing “cowardly terrorism” and a sign of “a new era of intrigue” in Iran.

Rafsanjani, who served as president from 1989 to 1997, has not publicly endorsed the opposition, but has waged political battles against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He has been sidelined from the prestigious role as the leader of Friday prayers at Tehran University, although he retains his posts among the ruling clerics.

Some reformist Web sites have called for supporters to honor Ali Mohammadi — which could bring another round of street clashes.

Ahmad Shirzad, one of Ali Mohammadi’s former classmates, said in a commentary published Wednesday that the scientist was a moderate figure and was not close to powerful conservatives.

Larijani, the parliament speaker, repeated Iran’s accusations of U.S. involvement and said Washington might have been encouraged by the postelection unrest to take bold action to intimidate Iran’s nuclear scientists.

“Perhaps they assumed that, given some domestic disputes, there was an opportunity to take such action and intimidate university professors and cause damage to the country’s nuclear research activities,” he said.

Larijani accused the Obama administration of state terrorism and said, “A bad fate awaits you in this adventurous move.”

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner dismissed the Iranian claims of U.S. involvement as “absurd.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry had no comment.

As Iran presses its crackdown against opposition supporters, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy said Iranian intelligence agents arrested his father Tuesday at the family’s home in the city of Qom.

Mehdi Khalaji said the agents seized the family’s passports, as well as notes, books, personal letters, a computer and a satellite receiver.

The well-known political analyst, who has often been quoted in Western and Iranian media reports, believes his family was in part targeted to pressure him.

His father, Mohammad Taqi Khalaji, a cleric, has expressed support for the opposition and criticism of the country’s leaders in recent speeches.

Khalaji said officials have not told the family where his father is being held.

A New York-based rights group said Wednesday that Iranian authorities had released all 33 women detained last week during their weekly vigil for their children killed or missing in the postelection turmoil.

The last detainees among the group, known as the Mourning Mothers, were freed late Tuesday, said Hadi Ghaemi, a spokesman for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Murphy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.