All around the world. Im paula newton, and this is cnn newsroom. Iran is accusing israel of carrying out an assassination of its top scientist and vowing, quote, severe revenge. President hassani told the cabinet that iran will respond in time and irans Supreme Leader promised retaliation. So far, israel, has been silenced about the ambushed killing of the mastermind of the government. Cnns Nick Paton Walsh explains. Reporter the scientist lived largely in the silence. Gunned down friday in an apparent assassination according to state media. He was travel in the city east of tehran, when reports say his car was targeted by gunfire and a vehicle explosion. Irans Defense Ministry says he and his bodyguards were gravely wounded, succumbing to their injuries at the hospital a short time later. Believed to be 59, hes said to have headed the research of new technology in the countrys elite revolutionary guards. Israel Intelligence Services say he was the mastermind behind project ahmad, a decadelong secret program designtodesign an atomic warhead. That was scrubbed in 2003, but claimed he continued his research according to benjamin netanyahu. Remember that name. Hearings the directive, its right here. And he says that the general aim is to announce the closure of project ahmad. But then he adds, inspect activities, you know what that is, special activities will be carried out under the title of scientific know how intelligence. Reporter iran has long blamed israels Intelligence Service for the assassination of several of fakhrizadehs colleagues and wondering what they have to gain. Its a twofold effect. One is to slow down the program. And the other that Prime Minister netanyahu would want, to get iran to do something that would make it impossible for the United States to engage iran after january 20th. Iran has long denied that their plan to weaponize nuclear energy, claiming the scientist was nearly an academic for yea s s denying the request to interview him. Theyre vowing revenge. Chief of staff for irans armed forces vows. And this cowardice with serious indications of an israeli war shows desperate warmongering of pep traitorsing. Iran calls on the community and especially eu to end their shameful double standards. But its more than about the death of one man, aimed at Irans Nuclear program and above all for president elect joe biden to open the diplomacy with iran. Namely the 2015 deal, so near to brokered within the past months. Nick paton walsh, cnn, london. Were live in north tehran and jerusalem for the reactions. Well get the reactions from oren liebermann. First to iran. In just a while, irans Supreme Leader ali khamenei, tweeted that this man was murdered by, quote, brutal mercenaries. Are they talking about what form it will take . Because despite the tweets they have shown more restraint with regards to provocations from the Trump Administration . Paula, still rhetorical things. Bear in mind last years assassination last year on iraqi soil has been likened to this to be severely avenged. So far that has not been carried out. So, we can say, this is also another rhetoric. Because khameneis government is under pressure on one side to accelerate and speed up the process of nuclear engagement and other projects related to that nuclear issue. At the same time, theyre desperate because of the economy situations to pave the way for a new round of dialogue with america, once president elect biden comes to office in white house. So it is i mean, it is i mean, did dire situation with president rouhani on one side to go for severe revenge. But at the same time, keep the door for diplomacy open. And given the situation, Economic Situation inside the country, with the poverty iran, its a huge task to be carried out by president rouhani in the coming weeks and months. Paula. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. We want to zmudiscuss some of t now with cnns oren lieberman. Of course, oren, were not going to get any admission, one would think theyre the most likely in this. I want to point out that john brennan, the cia director said this is highly reckless and called statesponsored terrorism. When you take it all together, were saying, Joe Bidens Administration is coming in, they want do go back to the negotiating table with iran, what would have been israels calculus in all of this . Reporter well, israel, as Everybody Knows theres basically two months left in the Trump Administration which basically gives israel a free hand do whatever it wants in acting against iran. We saw that with israel steals of the Iranian Nuclear archive late 2017 and 20 thaernt, in fa is where the statement came from president netanyahu when he namechecked him. Its interesting to see what statements are made after the sabbath. Were not expecting a mission of anybody having carried this out. What statements were made about the scientist, do they believe it slowed down the Nuclear Program or was the real target simply diplomacy trying to make sure it would be impossible for eye Biden Administration to try to negotiate a new deal. Netanyahu said to return to the nuclear deal must not about allowed. Hes always been in favor of scrapping the nuclear deal. He pushed trump to do so. He was a backer of trumps maximum campaign, the Central Campaign against iran. Even whether that was effective or not, even know iran is beyond the limits set in the jpoa. So, given the limited time in the Trump Administration, given whats happening here in the Biden Administration that is expected to pursue diplomacy with iran. Perhaps, that was really the plan here in taking out one of irans Top Nuclear Scientists. To make those negotiations, that diplomacy is that much harder. Yet, if iran wants that diplomacy, he might indeed show restrangt int in the coming dayd weeks. Thanks to you both. U. S. Is monitoring the situation and waiting to see if iran retaliates. The timing threatens as oren was saying complicates any incoming situation from the Biden Administration. Cnns Barbara Starr has more. Even with no word from the Trump Administration or official its behind the scenes, theyre calling the assassination of this scientist a big deal. The man is said to be involved for decades in the development of Irans Nuclear weapons program. No one can say yet, who carried out the assassination. Iran very clearly pointing the finger at israel. Israel not responding. The question becomes what happens now in the region, theres a good deal of concern that things stay calm. That iran not retaliate for the assassinati assassination, even though the iranians are threatening to do so. For the part of the u. S. , theyre moving the aircraft nimitz back into the persian gulf. The Aircraft Carrier and fighter jets on board are going to provide air fire and defense for the withdrawal of troops in iraq and afghanistan, that President Trump ordered to be completed five days before he leaves office in january. All of this putting more fire power into the region. More tension, if you will, with president elect joe biden coming into office, having to decide what to do about it all. And everyone is wondering if the iranians are getting the message that the u. S. Is after deterrent. They want to deter iran, as one general said, we are not looking for war. Barbara starr, cnn, the pentagon. So, last hour, i spoke with middle east expert from the london schools of economics. I asked him if israel was behind the assassination as iran alleges. What does israel hope to accomplish. Israel has been attacks iranian targets in syria quite frequently, on weekly basis. Israel is widely believed to have carried out major attacks in iran, inside iran. Explosions and paramilitary attacks. And this particular attack fits the pattern that the israeli Prime Ministery is trying to do to protect iran to retaliation and ultimately to trigger an iranian confrontation before the end of this administration, in the next 50 days. Because the israeli Prime Minister and others state in the region are basically anxious that the next u. S. Administration will likely engage iran and try to salvage the nuclear deal. So the next 50 days, what youre seeing in syria, inside iran and the assassination of iranian Top Nuclear Scientist fits the pattern of israelis track. To really push iran back to the wall and force it to retaliate. My take on it, paula, is that iran has shown considerable restraint. Iranian officials want to provide the ammunition but the Trump Administration carrying out the attacks against the nuclear and ballistic missiles. What could change that calculus for them . Thats what i want to know. It is clear that iran has a lot to gain from the Biden Administration here. But its not a done deal, it wont be a new done deal. We had ramin in iran talk about the grassroots, right . And how difficult this is to go back to the table with the u. S. Government, any u. S. Government. Youre absolutely correct. I mean, any kind of a deal between the Biden Administration and iran is going to be extremely difficult, given what has happened in the past year or so. Were not just talking about the killing of the top iranian scientist, were also talking about the anas natissassination top general. You have the details from your reporters, many reporters in the field. If you ask me the big picture, the historians, and i could be wrong, historians will look at this particular period about the Trump Administration because we say some actions receive the results from their intended consequences. What might be unintended consequences by the Trump Administration by pulling out of the nuclear deal with iran that was signed by president obama, by assassinating the general, and now israel assassinating, you know, the top scientist, it will not only complicate u. S. iranian relations. We will look at this particular periods basically a Tipping Point in speeding up irans acquisition of an atomic bomb. Fawaz gerges from the school of economics. Just to be clear, israel has not commented on the assassination and theres no confirmation that israel was behind it. Coronavirus numbers just soared past another troubling milestone. Just ahead, why Health Experts are so frightened of the holidays. And hospitals saw this surge coming. Ill speak to a medical doctor from outbreaks from sars to ebola, but this pandemic has surprised him. Hell explain why, after the break. Our skin. Tells a story. That deserves. The best care. Dove body washs new formula works with your skin. For lasting care. So your skin. Can keep telling stories. Beautifully. New dove body wash proven lasting care for the skin you live in. You power through chronic migraine 15 or more headache days a month,. Each lasting 4 hours or more. Botox® prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine. So, if you havent tried botox® for your chronic migraine,. Check with your doctor if botox® is right for you, and if samples are available. Effects of botox® may spread hours to weeks after injection. Causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away, as difficulty swallowing,. Speaking, breathing, eye problems, or muscle weakness. Can be signs of a lifethreatening condition. 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Try garnier micellar water rose. With rose water and micelles that work like a magnet to gently cleanse and remove oils and makeup. And now, even hydrates skin. Its cleansing, reinvented. Micellar waters by garnier, naturally. Yes someday im going to marry you. Someday well buy that little place on ellsworth. Some days, will be rougher than others. Someday, 50 years will have gone by, and ill ask you to marry me, all over again. Someday. So, the u. S. Crossed yet another sobering coronavirus milestone on friday. More than 13 million cases have been confirmed to date. Those include, sadly, more than 264,000 deaths, all according to Johns Hopkins university. With an approved vaccine still at least weeks away, the pandemic, is, of course, expected to grow even worse. And thanksgiving gathers wiingsl have a lot to do with it. Cnns nick watt explains. Reporter americans were urged not to travel for the holiday. Millions did anyway. I am so worried about everything thats happening over thanksgiving. Because we have a massive surge on top of another massive surge. Reporter that massive surge in numbers, more than 100,000 new cases logged every day, for 25 days straight. Thanksgiving day, more than 90,000 americans in the hospital, with covid19. And yet another alltime high. On average, more than 1500 deaths are now reported every day. Some experts say that could couple in the coming weeks. But take florida. The governor just extended his ban on local government enforcing mask mandates. Most important job as an elected official whether youre president , governor or mayor is Public Safety with health. If we all do these things, we will reduce our numbers. Less people will get sick and less people will go to the hospital and unfortunately die. Reporter National Death tolls will dip in the next few days. Dont be fooled, some states arent reporting over the holiday. The world, this country, not in a good place as we wait for the vaccines. The vaccines are being delivered literally, it will start next week and the week avenue. Reporter very unlikely. The fda hasnt even authorized a vaccine. The Advisory Committee meets december 10th. A decision could take days, even weeks. Likely, late december, best case for first shots in arms. Dont let joe biden take credit for the vaccine. The president is playing politics, still even in defeat. Political theater absolutely has to stop. People are even much more reluctant. Even Health Care Workers, im in the health care setting, Health Care Workers are hesitant even though theyre the priority because because of the vocalization of whats going on. Reporter for three weeks, angelinos are being advised to stay home as much as possible. Basically, were not allowed to mix with anyone outside of your immediate households. You can go to church, of course, thats constitutionally protected. But authorities here desperately trying to keep a lid on the virus in this window between thanksgiving and christmas. Nick watt, cnn, los angeles. Okay. The surge is already happening in some areas. During the thanksgiving holiday, nebraska reported its highest ever single day of new coronavirus infections, more than 5200 cases. And thats according to Johns Hopkins university. Now, the state now has confirmed the total of 124,000 new infections and almost 1,000 deaths, as the virus surges through americas midwestern heartland. Now, as you can see here, since the beginning of the october, the moving average of new cases is, of course, heading in the wrong direction. The university of Nebraska Medical Center is one of the premier facility information the United States for treating infectious diseases. You can see here, it was ready to take on ebola and sars several years ago. But lately, even its having trouble coping with the onslaught of coronavirus cases. Now, i spoke a bit earlier with one doctor there still coming to grips with the soaring numbers. Dr. David butney is a professor at the medical center. Your medical center, one of the best in the United States, arguably the world when it comes to infectious diseases. You handled ebola. The first patients off of crouie ships that came into the United States. Were so months on, and you can fathom the position that your Health Facility and others around the United States find themselves in now . If you were to ask me, at the beginning of the year, whether we would be dealing with case count to the scale we are now, i would not have said so. It really does surprise me that we continue to struggle with some of the basics of Risk Mitigation in this pandemic. Mask use, physical and social distancing. Hand and environmental hygiene, being mindful of when were sick sore others are in aggreg