Tehran, June 25 (V7N) – Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, appeared in a public rally in Tehran on Tuesday, putting to rest recent speculation about his death in an Israeli airstrike.

In a video released by Iran’s state-run Tasnim News Agency and Press TV, Qaani is seen attending a rally celebrating Iran’s missile strikes on US military bases in Qatar, part of the broader conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel. The event, dubbed the “Victory Rally,” was held shortly after the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

His appearance directly contradicts a report published by the New York Times on Friday (June 20), which cited an Iranian source claiming Qaani had been killed in a recent Israeli strike. That report now appears to be false, as confirmed by Qaani’s participation in Tuesday’s public event.

Qaani, who succeeded Qassem Soleimani after his assassination in a US drone strike in 2020, has been a key figure in Iran’s regional military strategy. His status was further thrown into doubt following the October 2024 Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah figure and potential successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Adding to the confusion, Israeli media had also reported in October, citing Sky News, that Qaani suffered a heart attack during an investigation into a security breach within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to a Middle East Eye report, Iranian officials are probing suspected Israeli intelligence infiltration, particularly in the IRGC’s Lebanese branch.

Despite these concerns, Qaani’s public appearance during the Operation Divine Victory rally suggests he remains firmly in command.

The rally took place amid growing domestic support for Iran's military leadership following a wave of retaliatory strikes against US and Israeli targets. The strikes concluded after 12 days of conflict, with US President Donald Trump announcing a ceasefire that was reportedly accepted by both Israel and Iran.

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