November 15-2013
The deputy minister of trade has been shot dead in his car, but police suspect it is not a political assassination.
The police said Safdar Rahmat-abadi was shot twice Sunday evening. No windows were shot out and there were two shell casings on the floor of the car, suggesting he was shot by someone riding with him.
Rahmat-abadi was the deputy minister for trade, industry and mines for parliamentary affairs. He was not a major political figure and would not be a logical target for a political assassination. No one has claimed responsibility for the murder.
He was shot once in the head and once in the chest at about 7:30 p.m. while in his car was in Sabalan Square in eastern Tehran.
Deputy Interior Minister for Law Enforcement Ali Abdollahi said Monday, “This has by no means been a terrorist act. We are working with the police to find the main suspect. We have gained new clues and evidence and are trying to find more details about the case.” But he avoided saying if the police were looking for any specific individual.
Rahmat-abadi was the second public officeholder killed in Iran in five days. The previous Wednesday gunmen killed a city prosecutor in Sistan va Baluchestan province, spraying his car with bullets. His death was claimed by a Baluchi rebel group.
In September, a senior officer of the Pasdaran was found dead near Karaj. Officials have also said that was not a political assassination. But no one has been charged in that case.