Soleimani killing a 'foolish escalation', US responsible for 'all consequences', Zarif warns

Iran's foreign minister has condemned the killing in a US airstrike of the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force as "extremely dangerous".

"The US' act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani - THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al - is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation," Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter.

He continued by warning the US that it would be responsible for "all consequences of its rogue adventurism".

An adviser to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani also warned .S President Donald Trump of retaliation from Tehran.

“Trump through his gamble has dragged the U.S. into the most dangerous situation in the region,” Hessameddin Ashena wrote on the social media app Telegram. “Whoever put his foot beyond the red line should be ready to face its consequences.”

The airport strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, and five others, including the PMF's airport protocol officer, Mohammed Reda, Iraqi officials said.

The Pentagon on Thursday confirmed that the US military killed Qassem Soleimani at the direction of President Trump.

The general, architect of Iran's regional security apparatus, was killed in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport on Friday, alongside the deputy commander of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces.