Iran website denies Qasem Soleimani sidelined

A conservative Iranian website has denied reports that the Iranian commander in charge of the country’s Iraq file has been replaced.

Citing an unnamed source within the National Alliance, a coalition of Shiite parties that includes politicians with close links to Tehran, Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat reported Aug. 26 that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force Cmdr. Qasem Soleimani “would be replaced” by his deputy Hossein Hamedani due to Soleimani’s inability to secure a third term for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.