Shaun
Iran’s supreme leader has accused the US and Israel of orchestrating the downfall of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad and pushing Iran out of the country.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first comments since the collapse of a key part of Iran’s “axis of resistance,” stated in Tehran: “There should be no doubt that what happened in Syria is the product of a joint American and Zionist plan. A neighbouring government in Syria plays an obvious role in this regard, but the main conspirator, mastermind, and command centre are in America and the Zionist regime.”
“We have evidence. This evidence leaves no room for doubt,” he stated as reported by Iranian state media
While Khamenei did not name the neighbouring government, his remarks appear to point towards Turkey, which supported opposition forces that launched a highly effective military campaign from Idlib.
Khamenei expressed his frustration over the situation in Damascus, condemning scenes of celebration amid what he termed an unacceptable scenario of Zionist regime attacks. He declared, “The Syrian youth will undoubtedly stand firm and overcome this situation.”
In his speech, Khamenei also added the Iran-led alliance would gain in strength across the entire region.
“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,” Khamenei said.
“Iran is strong and powerful—and will become even stronger,” he said.
The fallout from Syria’s collapse has led to a rare and open critique within Iran about its strategy and the implications for its security and foreign policy. Reformist political activists and analysts have questioned whether the massive investment in propping up Assad’s regime – reportedly $30bn to $40bn – was justified.
There is also widespread debate over whether Iran will recover the financial debts owed by Syria or maintain its influence with the new government, likely to be led by the Sunni-dominated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). In a significant diplomatic shift, Qatar is set to reopen its embassy in Damascus, strengthening its position in the region. Meanwhile, Hamas, historically allied with Iran, has welcomed Assad’s downfall.
