Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, blamed Israel for removing Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the Iranian nuclear scientist.

"The enemy (Israel) does not dare to wage war like men against Iran, but the end of Israel is approaching... This assassination is one of the 'arrogant international thieves' desperate attempts," according to the IRNA news agency, Ghaani said.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized the importance of prosecuting the removal of the scientist by those involved in the crime.

Khamenei claimed in a letter to the Iranian nation that the assassination was carried out by "criminal agents" and that even after his death, Fakhrizadeh's scientific approach would continue.

Also, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani blamed the murder on Israel (and the US).

The enemies of Iran, Rouhani said, know that the removal of Fakhrizadeh will not stop the scientific growth of Iran, but will increase its willingness to continue its work.

Iran has reported in the past that Israel employs assassins in the Middle East to destroy nuclear scientists.

Four nuclear scientists were assassinated inside Iran between 2010 and 2012 and a fifth survived a bomb attack. The Iranian government has blamed the US, British, and Israeli intelligence services for the attacks.

Although Israel has not spoken, the US and Britain have denied involvement.