IRAN'S nuclear mastermind was assassinated by a killer robot machine gun which used artificial intelligence, a new report says.

       Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a senior official in Iran's nuke programme, was shot 13 times while driving on a road to the east of capital Tehran in November last year.

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       Top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed in November last year 4

       He was reportedly in a car when he was shot 13 times Credit: AFP

       At the time of his death, Iran claimed the killing was carried out remotely by Israel with artificial intelligence and a machine gun equipped with a "satellite-controlled smart system" that was being "controlled online."

       Almost a year later, a New York Times report, has confirmed the claims are true.

       The report states the weapon was "kitted out with artificial intelligence and multiple-camera eyes, operated via satellite and capable of firing 600 rounds a minute."

       According to the paper, there had been several previous plots by Israel to take out Fakhrizadeh over the years and eventually a remote attack via a robot machine gun was decided.

       The machine gun was placed into the back of a blue Nissan Zamyad pickup truck, hidden beneath tarpaulins and decoy construction material.

       The truck was also equipped with cameras to give a full picture of the target and its surroundings as well as explosives meant to blow up and destroy the evidence.

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       The reason AI was programmed was to compensate for the 1.6-second delay between the moment the camera images reach the sniper and for the sniper's response to reach the machine gun.

       There was also a decoy car resting on a jack with a wheel missing nearby, also equipped with a camera.

       The attack took place on November 27 shortly before 3:30pm local time.

       The machine gun fired multiple bullets, hitting the front of the car below the windshield and then the sniper fired three more times after adjusting the gun, hitting Fakhrizadeh in the shoulder.

       The target reportedly stepped out of the car and was shot three more times.

       Yet, the explosion that was meant to destroy the robot did not fully destroy the evidence, giving Iranian officials clues as to how the attack happened.

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       Fakhrizadeh was the mastermind behind Iran's nuke programme 4

       Pictures from the scene show a black car peppered with bullets and blood-soaked tarmac

       Iran warns 'no terror will go unanswered' at funeral of nuke mastermind

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