Iran plays down killing of minister Safdar Rahmat Abadi, the first in years

An unidentified attacker shot dead an Iranian deputy minister of industry in Tehran in what appeared to be the first reported killing of a senior central government official in years.

A police officer was reported to have said a personal motive was most probably behind the killing of Safdar Rahmat Abadi, who was shot in the head and chest as he got into his car in the east of the capital.

"The likelihood is that the killing of Mr Rahmat Abadi happened through a personal motive and talk of assassinations and political issues is not involved," the Mehr semi-official news agency quoted Colonel Alireza Mehrabi as saying.

The IRNA tate news agency quoted a police official as saying: "Investigations show that two shots were fired from inside the vehicle.

"Two shells were found inside the car and this shows a strong likelihood that the assailant was inside the car and in conversation with Mr Abadi. There was no sign of struggle at the scene."

Attacks against Iranian military and provincial officials have increased in recent weeks.