What's behind the mysterious deaths in Iran? Senior IRGC commander dies of 'chemical injuries'

Iran, still reeling from the 12-day war with Israel, has announced the death of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official, the second death in recent weeks. Gholamhossein Gheybparvar, deputy commander at the Revolutionary Guards' Imam Ali base, died due to "illness caused by chemical injuries" from the Iran-Iraq war, which ended in 1988, according to the officials.

Gheybparvar's death raised eyebrows as no such condition had been disclosed previously. He was seen last month in the northern Iranian city of Qazvin. He appeared healthy, though he wore a face mask, according to Iran International. 

Known by the alias Shahram, Gheybparvar held prominent roles across IRGC institutions involved in domestic crackdowns, the report added.

This is the second such suspicious death in recent times, the other being the death of a former representative of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Tharallah headquarters. The IRGC announced Ali Taeb's death, but it gave no details about the cause. The Iranian state media said Taeb died of natural causes, but his death happened just hours after a gas explosion at a residential high-rise in western Tehran. State media said Taeb died of natural causes.

The Taeb family holds significant positions of power in the Iranian regime. Ali's brother, Hossein Taab, headed the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence organisation until 2022, and was one of the most powerful figures in the country. Hossein is known for his brutality and close ties to Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the Supreme Leader. 

However, his death triggered speculations that it could either be a purge within the IRGC or Israeli involvement, especially since the "Tharallah" headquarters is one of the most prominent units of the IRGC, directly responsible for internal security. It was also among the targets that Israel attacked during the latest escalation between the two sides.

Gheybparvar also headed the domestic militia, the Basij, from 2016 to 2019 and was also the deputy chief of the Imam Ali base, which links him to Taeb. Taeb also participated in the Iran-Iraq War and played a significant role in the regime's ideological system. 

The deaths also assume importance in the wake of frequent explosions rocking Iran. Since the end of the war, various explosions have been recorded in several locations, but the country's authorities have denied that this was a security incident. However, given the marking of the building as the residence of senior officials, it is likely that this was not a coincidence.

 

Middle East