Mysterious letter attributed to Qaani sparks wide controversy over his fate

A message attributed to the commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Esmail Qaani, sparked wide controversy over his fate, although its aim was to reassure Iranians that he was not killed.

Qaani's absence from public view continues to raise questions, especially after Iranian security officials confirmed to Reuters that contact with him had been lost since the Israeli strikes on Beirut late last week.

The mystery surrounding Qaani's fate increased after the Iranian website "News" published a message that Qaani sent to the Seventh International Conference in Solidarity with Palestinian Children and Adolescents in Tehran, where he was unable to attend due to his participation in another important meeting. The conference host announced while reading the message that Qaani sent his greetings to all participants and apologized for not attending due to his preoccupation.

Earlier, the deputy commander of the Iranian Quds Force, Iraj Masjedi, confirmed that Qaani is in good health and is carrying out his activities normally, indicating that there is no cause for concern. Masjedi added that some are calling for an official statement, but there is no reason to do so.

Qaani had arrived in Lebanon a few days ago, and since the Israeli strike, his news has been cut off and he did not appear at last Friday’s prayers in Tehran, which increased speculation about his fate. Informed sources reported that Qaani was participating in secret meetings with Hezbollah leaders in Beirut, which raised doubts about his safety after the airstrikes.

Under these circumstances, pressure is mounting on the Iranian government to provide official clarifications about Qaani’s fate. Some political and media figures have called for the need to issue an official statement clarifying the reality of the situation, especially in light of the increasing rumors that are causing concern among citizens.

On the other hand, some analysts believe that Qaani’s absence from public view may be part of a broader strategy by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, aimed at maintaining the secrecy of the movements of its leaders in light of the escalating regional tensions. These analysts point out that the Revolutionary Guard may resort to such tactics to ensure the safety of its leaders and avoid being targeted by enemies.

Ultimately, Qaani’s fate remains a mystery until the Iranian government issues an official statement clarifying the situation. Meanwhile, speculation and rumors continue to circulate, adding to the uncertainty and anxiety among Iranians.