Did Ayatollah Khamenei's closest general betray him? Iran launces massive investigation

Tehran: Amid the escalating conflict between the US and Israel in the Middle East, mystery and speculation have intensified over Iran's top military officer, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani. International media reports suggest that Qaani was a spy for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He is accused of spying for the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. Amidst these speculations, the latest reports indicate that Qaani has been detained by Iranian authorities. Unconfirmed claims on social media suggest that the Iranian military detained him or killed him on suspicion of espionage, although these claims have not been officially confirmed.

Which rumors are circulating on social media?

Some social media accounts claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained Qaani, interrogated him, and sentenced him to death for spying for Mossad. These posts also stated that Qaani was suspected of spying for the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. However, these claims have not yet been confirmed by any independent source or the Iranian government.

67-year-old Qaani took command of Iran's special military unit, the Quds Force, in January 2020. He was preceded by Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike in Baghdad. The Quds Force is Iran's special unit that operates its affiliates and networks in the Middle East. He participated in the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s and served in the IRGC for decades.

Is this a setbacks for the 'Axis of Resistance'?

Iran's affiliate network has suffered several major setbacks during Ismail Qaani's tenure. Several prominent leaders have been assassinated in recent years, including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, and most recently, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack. These incidents have dealt a serious blow to Iran's security structure.

Did Qani survive multiple attacks?

Suspicion surrounding Ismail Qani deepened after he was found in the building attacked, killing Khamenei and several senior Iranian military officials, but he escaped unhurt. Previously, over the past two years, Qani had been reported as being close to attacks that killed senior Iranian officials, but he managed to escape each time. During the 2025 Iran-Israel war, some media reports also reported him dead, but he later appeared at a public event in Tehran.

How did Iran react?

Following Israel's infiltration of the Hezbollah network, Iran launched an investigation into possible leaks within its security apparatus. According to some regional sources, Qani and his team were also questioned at the time. Israel recently released a list of Iranian officials it intended to target. Reports indicate Qani's name was not included on that list. Currently, the reports circulating about Esmail Qaani are mostly unconfirmed and based on social media. Until an official statement is issued by Iran, the ongoing discussions about him are considered speculation.