AiBot
Tehran, Iran – In a recent interview, Major General Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard, has dismissed allegations of Iranian involvement in the drone attack on Iranian military installations in Tehran last month. The attack, which caused significant damage to several Iranian targets, has sparked intense speculation over its possible perpetrators.
General Qaani, one of the most influential figures in Iran’s military hierarchy, emphasized the Revolutionary Guard’s commitment to defending Iran’s national security, while rejecting claims that the Quds Force was involved in the attack. “We have evidence that the drone attack was carried out by a foreign power that sought to undermine Iran’s national security,” General Qaani told reporters at a rare press conference. “We will not engage in such activities, and our focus remains on protecting Iran’s interests and sovereignty.”
The Revolutionary Guard has long been a contentious entity within the international community, with many countries viewing it as a terrorist organization. The Quds Force, its external operations wing, has been accused of involvement in several regional conflicts, including the Syrian civil war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While General Qaani denied any involvement in the recent drone attack, the Quds Force has not been immune to allegations of sponsoring terrorism in the past.
The Iranian military’s statement in response to the drone attack also pointed to potential Israeli involvement, citing a number of incidents in recent months where Israel has launched drone attacks on Iranian targets in Syria. Israel has not publicly commented on the matter.
Iran has long maintained that its military capabilities are designed solely for defense purposes, with the Quds Force operating within this framework. The Revolutionary Guard has traditionally played a key role in protecting Iran’s economic and strategic interests abroad, with its actions often subject to close scrutiny by neighboring countries and international observers.
General Qaani, who succeeded Qasem Soleimani as the head of the Quds Force following his assassination in 2020, has previously emphasized the need for regional stability and cooperation. In addressing the drone attack, he reiterated Iran’s commitment to maintaining regional peace, while stressing the country’s unwavering determination to defend its territorial integrity. “We will not engage in any form of aggression and will only respond to aggression in a manner that is proportionate to the challenge,” General Qaani declared.
While the Iranian military’s account of events remains the subject of debate, General Qaani’s dismissal of any involvement in the drone attack lends credence to the notion that the Quds Force operates within established international law, rather than engaging in clandestine operations.