Senior IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi was seen publicly for the first time after four months underground, according to reports by Abu Ali Express. Vahidi, a key figure in Iran's decision-making circle, appeared yesterday and was described as one of Khamenei's 'casket strokers'—a reference to the inner circle managing the Supreme Leader's funeral process.
New details emerged Friday morning regarding IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi's public appearance on Thursday, the first in four months, with a report by Abu Ali Express describing him as one of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's "casket strokers"—a term for senior figures managing the late leader's funeral arrangements. The report, citing a photo or video circulated on Iranian social media, marks the first time Vahidi has been seen in the open since February.
The Zioneer reported on Thursday at 15:04 Jerusalem that Vahidi had appeared in public for the first time since February, attending a ceremony to organize Khamenei's funeral. Within hours, additional reports noted he had met with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for funeral preparations, and was later quoted saying "the job is not finished." By Thursday evening, The Zioneer reported that Vahidi was continuing tours across Tehran ahead of Friday's funeral ceremonies. The thread's reporting evolved from an unverified Telegram post to multiple confirmations across Iranian channels.
As The Zioneer has reported in its background coverage, Vahidi has emerged as a key coordinator during Iran's leadership transition following Khamenei's death. The IRGC, which Vahidi commands, has been described by senior Iranian sources as the "true winner" of the recent war, positioning itself to benefit from sanctions relief.
No new operational or political statements from Vahidi accompanied the appearance. It remains unclear whether his emergence signals a full return to public duties or a one-off ceremonial role. The report did not specify the exact location of the sighting.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake