In his first public statement after the fall of a key ally and a member of its “Axis of Resistance”, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed both the U.S. and Israel for planning the downfall. Khamenei called the ousting of Syria’s President, Bashar al-Assad, a coordinated effort by the Zionist regime, supported by a neighboring government, which Khamenei didn’t name while addressing Iranian media.
There should be no doubt that what happened in Syria is the product of a joint American and Zionist plan. A neighboring government in Syria plays an obvious role in this regard, but the main conspirator, mastermind, and command center are in America and the Zionist regime. We have evidence. This evidence leaves no room for doubt.
The Regional and International Implications Of The Syrian Conflict
While Khamenei refrained from directly naming the country he feels supported the demise of the Syrian President, it can be inferred that he wants to implicate Turkey. Historically, Turkey has supported the rebel-led forces in Syria, which was quite significantly underlined during the Idlib campaign. This alleged support has far-reaching implications, especially for Iran as it now has to reassess its strategic positioning in the region that is fraught with geopolitical tension.
After the rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), captured Damascus and forced Assad to flee the country, many stakeholders in the region looked at these developments with cautious optimism. However, Khamenei expressed his frustration with these developments, even condemning the celebrations as he maintains this to be an unacceptable attack by the Zionist regime. He further went on to reassure the audience that despite the challenging situation, the Axis of Resistance stands firm and will overcome any adversary.
The more pressure you exert, the stronger the resistance becomes. The more crimes you commit, the more determined it becomes. The more you fight against it, the more it expands. Iran is strong and powerful—and will become even stronger.
Strategic Fallout and Internal Criticism
In a rare instance of public criticism within Iran, political activists and analysts are all stressing the need to re-evaluate Iran’s foreign policy. The cost of supporting the Assad government has been reported to be around $30-40 billion. However, with recent developments, people fear that this money has gone down the drain. These critics have also questioned Syria’s ability and willingness to pay back the money. In fact, Iran might not even retain much influence under a potential Sunni-dominated government.
Other countries in the region are more hopeful for the Syrian government’s future. Qatar is preparing to reopen its embassy in Syria while taking a strategic re-entry into Syrian politics. Even Hamas, a long-term ally of Iran, has welcomed the changes in Syria, thus highlighting the growing division within the Iran-led alliance.
Calls for Foreign Policy Reevaluation
In the wake of these developments, senior Iranian officials have also acknowledged the need to reassess Iran’s foreign policy. The Irani Vice-President, Javad Zarif, is particularly vocal about this change. He argues in favor of a political and economic-centric foreign policy instead of a threat-centric approach.
Military victories are temporary. Without a win-win political agreement, they often lead to defeat.
Broader Regional Picture
Of course, Syria’s political and military landscape remains complex, as many are vying for influence within and from outside the country. Although Iran tried to retain Assad’s support to secure its position within the Axis of Resistance, the current situation is the complete opposite, as it is not even sure that it can retain its influence in the country.
Countries like Qatar are trying to start a new chapter in Syrian diplomacy, while Iran’s ally Hamas and neighbor Turkey are supporting the regime change. This would only further isolate Iran.
