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"Revolutionary Guard" Insists on Qaani's Safety.. Despite Increasing Doubts About His Fate
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The ambiguity surrounding Esmail Qaani's fate reflects a state of confusion within the Iranian regime's corridors, possibly indicating an internal crisis beyond the mere absence of a prominent leader
The state of ambiguity and anticipation continues regarding the fate of Major General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, amid conflicting news and multiple speculations. Despite repeated reassurances from Revolutionary Guard leaders, doubts still linger about his current status.
Questions have notably escalated following Qaani's apology for not attending the "Seventh International Solidarity Conference with Palestinian Children" held in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Instead of his personal attendance, the conference presenter read a message attributed to him, indicating that his absence was due to an "important meeting," which raised more speculations about the reality of his situation.
News conflicted strikingly about Qaani's recent movements. While two senior Iranian security officials confirmed losing contact with him since his alleged trip to Beirut last Thursday, his deputy, Iraj Masjedi, rushed to deny this information, affirming that Qaani is in good health and performing his duties inside Iran as usual.
Amid this conflict, another source in the Quds Force denied what some Israeli and other media outlets circulated about the possibility of Qaani being injured or killed due to Israeli raids targeting a headquarters in the southern suburb of Beirut, where Hashim Safi al-Din, the successor of the late Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanese Hezbollah, is allegedly present.
Adding to the intensity of speculations is the absence of Qaani, 67 years old and known for his media reticence, from several important official occasions. He was absent last Friday (October 4) from attending Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's sermon commemorating Nasrallah, and on Sunday, he did not witness the ceremony of Khamenei awarding a medal of honor to the Air Force commander, Major General Amir Ali Haji Tain Belah.
It's worth noting that Qaani's last documented public appearance was on September 29, two days after Nasrallah's assassination, where he was seen in the office of Abdullah Safi al-Din, Hezbollah's representative in Tehran and Hashim Safi al-Din's brother.
These developments come amid escalating regional tensions, especially between Iran and Israel, raising questions about the impact of Qaani's absence - if true - on Iran's strategy in the region, particularly its support for allies in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
Analysts view that the continued ambiguity surrounding the fate of a prominent figure like Qaani may reflect confusion within Tehran's decision-making corridors, and indicates the possibility of internal disagreements over managing sensitive regional files. Others point out that this situation may be an indicator of potential shifts in Iranian policy towards multiple regional conflicts.
Levant-Agencies
