Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, Iran’s top military figure and head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, has reappeared in public after weeks of absence that sparked intense rumors. Allegedly, Qaani was subject to a harsh interrogation by his own Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) amid suspicions of espionage, following recent Israeli airstrikes that eliminated senior Hezbollah leaders, including rumored Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Unverified reports claim Qaani may have suffered a heart attack during his detention, adding to suspicions of his involvement.
Qaani was seen attending a memorial service in Karbala, Iraq, looking visibly frail and uneasy. Footage circulating on social media shows him hunched, often touching his face and wiping his eyes with a tissue. This appearance marked his first since early October, around the time of the second airstrike, which intensified speculation about his alleged betrayal. Despite the IRGC’s confirmation that he remains “alive and in good health,” his noticeably weakened state has done little to quell rumors surrounding his supposed involvement in Israeli intelligence operations.
Iranian state media aired Qaani’s appearance, yet they avoided addressing his recent absence or the swirling accusations. For now, his frail appearance only fuels the ongoing questions regarding his role in the recent Israeli strikes and his loyalty within the ranks of Iran’s powerful military leadership.
