How will the Islamic Republic respond to the assassination of their top nuclear scientist? This past year hasn’t been great for Iran. Just one day into 2020, Iran’s top general, Qasem Soleimani, and Iraqi Shi’ite militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in a drone strike outside Baghdad’s airport. With …

Iranian hardline media called on Sunday for a tough answer. Iran will give a “calculated and decisive” response to the killing of its top nuclear scientist, said a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, while a hardline newspaper suggested Tehran’s revenge should include striking the Israeli city of Haifa.

This third way may breakdown the choice of: war v. quick deal. Paradoxically, the assassination of Iran nuclear program “father” Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was probably undertaken to avoid war with Iran.