Reports Iranian nuclear scientist assasinated

An Iranian scientist linked to the country's nuclear program has been assasinated outside his home in Tehran, some reports in the Iranian media say.

Iran blamed that attack on Israeli secret service Mossad, according to the BBC. Israel has held long-time fears about Iran's nuclear program.

Isna news agency named the victims as Daryoush Rezaei, 35. Witnesses say he was shot in the neck by assailants who fled on motorbikes. His wife was wounded and was rushed to hospital.

Isna said that Rezaei was an expert with links to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

In 2010, nuclear scientist Massoud Ali Mohammadi was killed by a remote-controlled bomb in Tehran, according to a report in the BBC.

Rezaei was said to be a physicist at a Tehran university, where media reports described him variously as a teacher, researcher and student and have linked him to the country's nuclear program.

But Iran's semi-official Fars news agency has denied that a physicist involved in the country's disputed nuclear program was assassinated.

The Fars news agency says the victim of Saturday's attack was Darioush Rezaeinejad, a university student in Tehran.

Iran officials could not be reached for comment nor could the families of either men.