Iran's defence minister has threatened the US with "crushing revenge" for the death of Major General Qassem Soleimani.

Amir Hatami, who is also top commander of the elite Quds, said: "A crushing revenge will be taken for Soleimani's unjust assassination... We will take revenge from all those involved and responsible for his assassination."

Maj Gen Soleimani, who was killed in a drone airstrike on Baghdad airport by US forces, was a revered figure in the region - and the attack marks a dramatic escalation of tensions with Tehran.

Image: General Qassem Suleimani

In the aftermath of Friday's attack, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned a "harsh retaliation is waiting" for the US - describing the commander as the "international face of resistance".

Declaring three days of public mourning during a statement on state television, Khamenei added: "All enemies should know that the jihad of resistance will continue with a doubled motivation, and a definite victory awaits the fighters in the holy war."


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said there was no doubt that Iran and "other freedom-seeking countries" in the region will take revenge.

He added: "Soleimani's martyrdom will make Iran more decisive to resist America's expansionism and to defend our Islamic values.

The UK has urged for cooler heads to prevail, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab saying: "We have always recognised the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force led by Qasem Soleimani. Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests."

Despite this, Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said: "The brutality and stupidity of American terrorist forces in assassinating Commander Soleimani... will undoubtedly make the tree of resistance in the region and the world more prosperous."

Image: Scene of the strike at Baghdad Airport

On Twitter, he said the assassination of Soleimani was "an extremely dangerous and foolish escalation".

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah praised him as a martyr and offered condolences on behalf of the Iran-backed group. He pledged to "pursue his path and work night and day to achieve his goals."

In the US, the targeted drone strike that also killed Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), received a mixed response.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo tweeted: "Iraqis - Iraqis - dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more."

Image: The attack comes amid tensions with the US after the New Year's Eve attack by Iran-backed militias on the US Embassy in Baghdad

South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, posted: "To the Iranian government: if you want more, you will get more."

But former vice president Joe Biden warned: "This is a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region.

"President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox, and he owes the American people an explanation of the strategy and plan to keep safe our troops and embassy personnel, our people and our interests, both here at home and abroad, and our partners throughout the region and beyond."