Esmail Qaani Under Investigation for Espionage

Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, is reportedly under investigation for espionage amid fears of Israeli infiltration within the Iranian leadership. Following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his presumed successor, Hashem Safieddine, Qaani has not been seen publicly and is said to be isolated during interrogations. His chief of staff, Ehsan Shafiqi, has been imprisoned for suspected collaboration with Israel, prompting concerns regarding security breaches in the IRGC. Although there were rumors about Qaani's health, Iranian officials claim he is alive and performing his duties, despite undergoing questioning. The IRGC has launched an inquiry into how Israeli intelligence managed to penetrate senior Hezbollah ranks. This situation underscores increasing tensions and internal disputes within the IRGC since the death of Qasem Soleimani in 2020.