Rush through more executions before the Biden Administration takes office. And a rare protest in cubas capital, dozens of artist join a demonstration, calling for the release of a jails rap. Im going to get your oscar with sports as books, as mike tyson a roy jones jr. Way in the heavyweight exhibition fight in los angeles. Thank you very much for joining us. Irans Supreme Leader says the country will retaliate against the killing of a Top Nuclear Scientists, whom the u. S. And israel accused of masterminding, a secret weapon program. Gunmen ambushed a vehicle carrying must say, in fact reside, and his body garcia. The capital on friday present has on rouhani says, the killing will not slow down tehrans Nuclear Program that he says is peaceful more on that shortly. And store such a bit for us this report from the aftermath of the killing bullet holes in a car and blood on the floor injured in the attack. Mostyn factories are there was taken to hospital, but later died. He had been one of irans most Senior Nuclear scientists and had already survived a previous assassination attempt. Based on the report made by the gods 1st, they opened fire to scoff, and after 10 to 15 seconds, a truck carrying explosive materials exploded in a car. Fire continued after the explosion. Officials admit his death is a blow to the countrys defense program. I mean, naanee, iran. All of irans enemies should well know the people of iran and those in charge of this nation are braver than to let this criminal action go without a response. In the right time, a response to this crime will be given and likewise, the people of iran are wiser than to fall in the trap of the zionist conspiracy. This really Prime Minister had named fuckers out in 2018 as the director of Irans Nuclear weapons program. A key part of the plan was to form new organizations to continue the work. This is how dr. Morse, in fact, is the head of project about put it, remember the name for his that. So heres his director right here. And he says, the general aim is to announce the closure project, but then he adds special activities. You know what that is . A special activity will be carried out under the title of scientific know how developments previous assassinations of 4 ring and scientists between 2012012 have also been blamed on israel with u. S. Officials briefing the press about his rating involvement. So based on the those those background briefings to the press, there is, there is strong reason to suspect both israeli and possibly even u. S. Involvement. Given the very public pronouncements of u. S. Officials that they will use this time between the end of the trying to ministration in the beginning about in ministration to do whatever they can to punish iran and. d irans progress in the Nuclear Field and other fields as well. Fuckers are they had been under a u. N. Security council list of sanctioned individuals. Iran had never allowed him to be interviewed by the International Atomic agency. His whereabouts were also kept secret. The killing will also raise questions about the countrys internal security. Iranian officials are already vying to respond while saying the Nuclear Program will continue. But the timing of this assassination comes when iran is waiting for president elect joe biden to return the u. S. To the 2015 nuclear deal. A treaty intended to keep irans Nuclear Program peaceful. Most in fuckers are the, is the most senior and crucial scientists killed to date this certain to complicate any future talks and further increased tensions in the region. Assad, big al jazeera to her own, and alive not to aljazeera is dosage of bari in tehran, dorsai the iranian president , pointing the finger of blame at israel. Tell us more about that and the other reactions in iran today. Well, president Hassan Rouhani has stressed that this act will not go unpunished by the iranians, but its not clear as to how iran will respond. What is very significant is that this actually illustrates a very significant hole within the Security Apparatus in the country. This is something that i think a lot of people are looking at very closely in iran at the moment. It was an act that was carried out in broad daylight in the middle of a friday afternoon just near the capital. And its something that has caused alarm for many across the country, not only people within these meant the president also said that with, in due time iran will retaliate, but its not clear how and when that will take place. But what is significant is that the tone that president Hassan Rouhani had this morning during his weekly coronavirus house. 1st meeting was very similar to also the statement we got from the Supreme Leader, ayatollah khomeini, who issued a statement on his website earlier today as well. Saying that those who go those people who carried out this act will be punished and that the work of these scientists will continue. There is a certain sense that the officials here are trying to be as muted a possible trying not to escalate tensions that are already very high in this region between iran and world powers. Right. As you say, unclear how iran will retaliate, even though they say theyre going to retaliate. How much pressure is president rouhani under right now to do something about this . Because clearly the ball now is in iran scam certainly this is a very critical moment for officials here because if they do nothing, it shows weakness that they dont want to portray. And if they do something, they risk the chance of escalating tensions. That is not something anybody here wants it, but there is pressure from various conservative camps in the country that there has to be a response. And one of the ideas thats been thrown around, one of the options that is available to iran at the moment, is that they can limit and cut off the access that the i. A. E. A. Inspectors have to the Nuclear Facilities in the country. This is part of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The i. A. E. A. Inspectors have the right to come into the country at any time without any advance notice to inspect the sites that they have access to. And the iranian officials cannot withstand, in stand in their way. This is something that iran can remove itself from. They can. This is one of the last commitments under that agreement that iran is still abiding by, since the u. S. Withdrew from the deal in 2013 is a possibility. But other than that, its very difficult to say what iran might do that could try and be seen as a proper response to Something Like this. But its, its an event that has really shaken the country because it illustrates how vulnerable iran can be at any given moment and all of it under the proper august that the countrys Nuclear Program is the reason for all these events taking place, dosage of bari in tehran, thank you. Lets discuss this further now with Nora Rockwood who is director of the open Nuclear Network and hes also a former i facial. She is via skype from vienna. Thank you very much, mr. Erakat for being with us 1st. The fact that so far we havent seen a lot of reaction to this killing except from iran, regional allies like hezbollah. What does that suggest to you . Are you surprised by the lack of reaction from western countries . You know, thats a fairly standard response. If youre talking about countries willing to take responsibility for this, it will be interesting to see whether the remaining parties to the g c p o way would be willing to condemn this activity where there is this killing of reside. They will have to wait and see what happens there, and whether the Security Council will adopt a resolution unlikely given the veto power of the u. S. On the Security Council, right . Israel widely assumed to be responsible for fact reside is death. The question though is why and now is this time, do you think to impede restoration of the Iran Nuclear Deal that the incoming u. S. Administration had said it would consider joining again. I think there are a couple of things to consider whether this was fortuitous, opportunistic, or whether it was intentionally timed to coincide with the end of transit ministration. To do is to disrupt the biden ministration. I think it will make any negotiations on the j. C. P. A way, much more complicated and not just from the american side. I think its going to be difficult enough for president biden, but its further complicated by the reaction in iran to this killing of one of their most senior scientists. And you have the Upcoming Elections in iran in a few months. So its going to make it even were difficult for the moderates. Who would like to see a pattern up in the day c. P. O. Way to to continue to promote that. Right. But iran didnt take much action after the last strike the killing of qassam ceremony in iraq. Youve got a region today thats on edge concerned about what might happen in the final weeks of Donald Trumps administration. And the ball, as we heard now is in tehrans court. Can they really afford to risk a wide, a confrontation when, as weve said, theres a new administration coming in . Is it more likely that they will probably respond by reviewing their relationship with the end and perhaps limiting access that theyve given until now to the i think thats a possibility. I think it was very through tweeted yesterday or this morning that iranians are smart enough not to respond immediately and dramatically to this much in the same way as they did not respond to the assassination of the general. I do hope that the reaction is not to constrain i inspect sions, i think iran should and will continue to implement its comprehensive safeguards agreement with the i. A. E. A. And i hope as well the Additional Protocol to its safeguards agreement. They will certainly be reconsidering what other aspects of the g. C. P. O. A they can implement. But i think it will be a considered decision and well just have to wait and see and hope that they are. They appreciate their, their brilliant new Foreign Affairs specialist. I think they understand the consequences of responding in a bellicose way to either israel or to the United States between now and the assumption of the presidency by joe biden. Mrs. Rockwood, a figure very much for talking to us in iraq. What is directed at the open ok networks. Joining us there from the and i thank you very much for your time. We appreciate it. My pleasure. In other worlds, news World Leaders and human Rights Groups are calling for urgent mediation after the Ethiopian Government announced a final phase of its assault against the capital of the northern t. Grave region concern is growing for more than half a 1000000 people in the city of mackellar, that ethiopias army says it has encircled the United Nations wants nearly a 100000 in retreat, and refugees in tikrit could run out of food by monday and in neighboring sudan authorities are struggling to help more than 43000 refugees who fled the fighting in recent weeks. Up to 200000 are expected. Thats now speak to mr. Filippo grandi, whos the United Nations high commissioner for refugees. He is joining us from camp sudans eastern border with ethiopia. Mr. Grandy, thank you very much for taking the time to speak to us. Weve had tens of thousands of ethiopians fleeing to gray in recent weeks to escape the fighting there. 1st of all, how do you assess the situation now that youre on the ground and what sort of assistance has the u. N. H. C. R. Been providing so far . Let me go back to what you just said. I want to join those who are calling even more urgently for mediation and end of conflict, because this is what these people around me are fleeing and theyre still fleeing. The numbers have decreased the numbers of our rivals, but still that in their hundreds for a day yesterday, i was at the border and i met people just arriving more than 500 arrived yesterday through the various crossing points. I want to be on record to praise for having kept its borders open. Sudan already has a 1000000, refugees, countless displaced people, and yet it kept its borders open. It provided the 1st assistance. And now im here to coordinate and boost International Support to sudan and mobilize resources for, this response to be effective. A u. N. , a response, or was a little maids. Many reporters were on the ground before your own teams, including our own reporters. Why is that . Why was it difficult for you to get this operation under way . I think we actually moved quite quickly. Its a very remote area. As your correspondent, small, the logistics is difficult, so we have to gear up. But i think that the response is, is, is functioning. We have some challenges, people are arriving at the border in various points. We have to transport them to sites like this one where i am now. Its an 8 hour drive through difficult broads flimsy buses. Its not easy to do all this. It takes a bit of time, but i had meetings with the authorities here in the region today. And i think we are beefing up by the way. Im returning to her told tonight. And i am going to appeal on behalf of all humanitarian agencies for 150000000. 00, for the next 6 months. I need to be ready for a few months of assistance, hoping that the eventually people can go back. But many of the refugees arent using official Border Crossings from what we understand. So how is the u. N. H. C. R. Able to ascertain the numbers and the current needs . Well, the Sudanese Government is receiving them all. So a ton of fish will board their points wherever they have access, and then they transport them to the official once, where screening occurs, registration 1st assistance. And then for those who want transfer to a more stable place, many people dont want to move from the border there watching what the situation, how the situation develops in the gray region of ethiopia and making a decision whether they want to go back or stay in sudan for another while complex it is very complex. We had the Philippine Government on yesterday and they were saying that most of the areas that were under command now under their control. And that is now safe for people to return and is calling for their citizens to go back because their area and homes are being protected. Do you think the conditions are adequate right now . Right, right. For refugees to be able to return to ethiopia at this point its difficult to say because as you know, and as you have reported, we have no access over there. Now one of the requests that we have made to the european government and they want to make it again, is to give us humanitarian access. So we can also help make an assessment. And if people go back, we are also be present as an additional sign of reassurance. May i also say you mentioned it in your report . We are very worried about the eritrean refugees. Almost 100000 horse stood in p. Grey region for many years very, you know, very good way by the government. They are exposed to this conflict in many different ways. We are not able to access them and that they are also exposed to potential acts of violence. We heard some reports there, unconfirmed. We are very concerned and appealing to the european government to continue to fulfill its responsibility in hosting these refugees. 100000 eritrean refugees. These are people whove already been displaced and youre not aware of the current conditions. Have some of them been able to cross into sudan or not . You know, all, most of the people here that i have seen that we see are gray and people there are not every tree and refugees moving from the gray. Or if you appear to sudan, not yet, but of course if for their situation worsens, we cannot exclude that there will be onward movements. Mr. Grandy. One final question, if we can, so don, obviously is going to be overwhelmed if the numbers of refugees that are coming in to the territory of sudan keeps growing. What is your message to the International Community today in regards to helping out . So donna and of course, sudan also is a country thats known various crises in recent years. How will they be able to cope if the numbers keep growing . Absolutely, you know, sudan is in a political transition, is in a very difficult economic and social situation. At the pandemic of the koran up endemic is hitting hard here as well. So this appeal that we are making is really to support the response. So i hope that beyond all politics and all complex discussions about the future of sudan, this appeal is responded promptly and generously by donors. You know, by the way, 500 people per day, if 500 people per day, 500 refugees arrived in europe, governments would fall. But here the government has said we will uphold our tradition of hospitality. This needs to be supported internationally. Thank you so much, mr. Grandy for talking to us, philippa grandees, United Nations high commissioner for refugees. Speaking to us there from sudan not far from the border with ethiopia. We appreciate your time. Thank you very much. There is plenty more ahead on this aljazeera news hour including they ravage crops and cause widespread devastation. But could they be a new way to stop swarming, locusts grass, grapes and wrong . The Wine Industry becomes a major is casualty of an escalating trade rift between australia and china. And Egyptian Club found African Champions after beating their its a high rivals to have the details of its force to india 1st, where hundreds of police and p