UAE condemns killing of Iranian nuclear scientist

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said all parties should work towards de-escalation

The scene of the attack that killed Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, on the outskirts of Tehran. Wana via Reuters

The UAE has condemned the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh near Tehran on Friday, saying it could fuel more tension in the region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation on Monday said that all parties should work towards de-escalation.

"Given the current situation in the region, the UAE calls upon all parties to exercise maximum degrees of self-restraint to avoid dragging the region into new levels of instability and threats to peace," the ministry said.

The UAE's statement echoed the sentiments of the UN, which earlier called for restraint after Fakhrizadeh's death.

“Of course we condemn any assassination or extrajudicial killing," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

"We urge restraint and the need to avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of tensions in the region.”

On Saturday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded the “definitive punishment” of those behind the killing of Fakhrizadeh, who was long suspected by the West of leading a secret nuclear weapons programme inside Iran.