Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a TV statement Friday morning strongly condemned the US killing of the Iranian Quds Force commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani and vowed to take "harsh revenge" against "criminals" responsible.

Calling him a patriot and exceptional man, Khamenei said “a harsh revenge will await those criminals who stained their dirty hands with his (Soleimani’s) and his colleagues" blood in last night’s incident.”

Khamenei said: “Soleimani has ‘gone to heaven’… Soleimani’s killing will double the motivation of the resistance against the United States and Israel. Soleimani’s disappearance is bitter but the struggle will continue until victory, making criminals' lives more bitter.”

According to the Associated Press, Soleimani was killed in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport Friday morning.

The US defense secretary said that the air raid was done on orders from President Trump.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called Soleimani’s death a “dangerous” act.

"The US's act of international terrorism, targeting and assassinating Gen. Soleimani—the most effective force fighting Daesh, Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous and a foolish escalation,” and the US is responsible for “all consequences of its rogue adventurism.”

The US President Donald Trump tweeted a United States flag after the airstrike.

Meanwhile, Iran’s National Security Council held a special meeting after Soleimani’s death and said it will take harsh revenge against the US.

Media reports say oil prices surged on Friday morning following the news of the airstrike.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a statement condemned the killing of Iran's elite force commander Qassem Soleimani and vows “revenge” against the US.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramazan Sharif says the forces will open a “new chapter” and that Qassem Soleimani’s goals are clear. 

He says the Americans’ happiness will soon be changed into mourning.