Unverified Reports Claim Iran Executed IRGC Commander for Israeli Espionage
Speculation has intensified regarding the fate of Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, with unconfirmed reports from Arab media alleging the general was executed by Tehran for spying on behalf of Israel. These claims, which suggest Qaani was arrested and possibly put to death on suspicion of espionage, have not been verified by Iranian authorities and remain shrouded in uncertainty.
The 'Man with Nine Lives' and His Controversial Survival
According to Emirati outlet The National, the reports have spread widely online amid ongoing speculation about Qaani's remarkable ability to survive a series of deadly attacks. The 67-year-old commander, often dubbed 'the man with nine lives,' gained a reputation for repeatedly escaping assaults that killed those around him. Qaani assumed leadership of the Quds Force in January 2020 after the United States assassinated his predecessor, Qassem Suleimani. The Quds Force serves as Iran's foreign operations arm, responsible for building, arming, and coordinating the 'Axis of Resistance' across the Middle East.
During Qaani's tenure, numerous prominent figures within this network have been eliminated. These include Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon, and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran. Online rumours suggest Qaani may have provided information that enabled the operation targeting Haniyeh, noting that shortly after Qaani visited Haniyeh at a top-secret location in Tehran, Israel destroyed the hideout.
Pattern of Suspicion and Leadership Losses
Dozens of other senior Iranian commanders have also been eliminated in attacks across the region. Most recently, a joint US-Israeli operation killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior regime figures. Qaani, who managed Iran's regional proxy network during the escalating conflict, was notably not reported among the casualties. Suspicion has grown because he was allegedly close to several strikes that wiped out Iran's leadership. Some reports claim he left the site of the explosion that killed Khamenei just minutes before it struck, leading to theories he was leaking information to Israel.
Speculation was further fueled after it was said that an insider agent recruited by Mossad reportedly sent a video of Khamenei's body to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel had previously published a list of Iranian and Iran-linked officials it intended to eliminate, and last weekend announced that list as 'complete,' with Qaani's name conspicuously absent.
History of False Death Reports and Investigations
Over the past two years, several reports relying on unnamed security sources have indicated Qaani was near multiple meetings or locations later targeted in deadly strikes. During the 12-day Iran-Israel war, he was declared dead by several outlets before unexpectedly reappearing in Tehran at a public celebration in June 2025, dressed in civilian clothing. Similarly, in October 2024, he was declared dead, then apparently interrogated, before resurfacing on Iranian TV.
After Israel's penetration of Hezbollah's leadership structure, Iran reportedly launched a formal investigation into possible security breaches. Outlets in the region citing unnamed sources said Qaani and members of his team were placed under isolation and interrogated as a result.
Current Claims and Denials
Now, reports claim he was executed, with one social media account stating: 'Esmail Qaani, head of Iran's Quds Force has been executed by IRGC. He has survived all assassination attempts so far & was even with Khamenei during US-Israel bombing but escaped. Earlier, he was taken into custody by the IRGC on suspicion of being a Mossad agent.' Tehran has reportedly denied these rumours, according to Israeli news website JFeed.
Broader Context: Iran's Leadership Transition
The speculation emerges as Iran seeks to appoint a new Supreme Leader, with Khamenei's son Mojtaba positioned as a favourite. Mojtaba survived US-Israeli airstrikes that killed his father and dozens of the Islamic regime's top brass. He is a hardliner with close ties to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and one of the most influential figures in the clerical establishment.
However, US President Donald Trump has rejected Khamenei's son as a potential successor, demanding the final say on who leads Iran. 'They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,' Trump told Axios. '[Ali] Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,' Trump added, warning that the US would be back in a war within five years if the heir accedes as Supreme Leader.
Trump's extraordinary kingmaker role comes despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating the administration had no 'regime change' goal. The White House has worked to clarify its messaging, with Karoline Leavitt outlining four defined objectives: destroy Iran's missile arsenal, annihilate its navy, permanently prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and dismantle its terrorist proxies.
