Iranian Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani, long rumored dead after Israeli strikes, made a dramatic public appearance in Tehran Tuesday evening, putting to rest nearly two weeks of speculation about his fate.
Qaani, 62, was seen addressing a crowd in Revolution Square during a government-organized celebration marking what Iran is calling its “victory” over Israel.
Dressed in civilian clothes and a black baseball cap, the general appeared healthy and at ease, mingling with supporters waving Iranian flags. His presence was broadcast on Iranian state television, though officials offered no details about his whereabouts during his 12-day absence.
The rumors began on June 13, when The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that Qaani had been killed in an Israeli airstrike that also targeted other senior Iranian military officials. The report was never confirmed by Iranian authorities, but the general’s prolonged silence and absence from public view fueled widespread speculation. Even Wikipedia briefly listed his date of death as June 13, 2025, before quietly amending the entry after his reappearance.
Qaani’s sudden return has sparked questions about the circumstances of his disappearance. Iranian media have not explained his absence, and officials have declined to comment on whether he was ever in danger. The general’s reemergence comes at a sensitive time, as Iran seeks to project strength following weeks of heightened tensions and military exchanges with Israel.
Esmail Qaani has led the Quds Force—the elite external operations wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—since January 2020, after the U.S. assassination of his predecessor, Qasem Soleimani, in a drone strike near Baghdad airport.
