The Iranian regime is facing a mounting crisis following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s revelation that 4,000 Iranian military personnel have been withdrawn from Syria. This announcement, made during Putin’s annual press conference on December 19, starkly contrasts Tehran’s long-standing claims about its “advisory role” in Syria, laying bare the regime’s military setbacks and exposing a deepening crisis in its regional ambitions and domestic control.

Putin confirmed, “We assisted Iran in withdrawing 4,000 military personnel from Syria at Tehran’s request.” The Kremlin also acknowledged providing political asylum to Bashar al-Assad and his family following the collapse of his regime in Damascus.

The disclosure has triggered defensive reactions from Iranian officials attempting to downplay or deny the statement. Senior IRGC commander Mohammad Esmail Kowsari rejected Putin’s claim, stating, “The Islamic Republic does not allow Russia to move its forces,” and adding, “These individuals were not Iranian soldiers but foreign volunteers, including Lebanese and Afghans, who had been involved in advisory activities.”

Similarly, Mohammad-Jafar Asadi, another IRGC official, claimed that those transported were “non-military personnel” or “Shiite Afghans and Pakistanis who had been assisting humanitarian efforts in Syria.” Asadi also suggested that “even Iranian teachers working in Syria were instructed to leave via Lebanon.”

The regime’s Foreign Ministry attempted to save face by framing the evacuation as a “responsible decision” made “in consideration of the evolving security and political situation in Syria.” Yet this narrative contrasts sharply with Putin’s explicit acknowledgment of Iranian military personnel, further exposing Tehran’s credibility gap.

The Syrian retreat marks not just a military defeat but also a psychological blow to the Iranian regime. For years, Tehran framed its intervention in Syria as a strategic pillar of its security, spending over $50 billion and sacrificing thousands of IRGC soldiers to prop up Assad’s dictatorship. However, Assad’s fall and the subsequent withdrawal of Iranian forces have turned this narrative into a liability, sparking widespread disillusionment among Tehran’s rank-and-file forces and the public.

The regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sought to suppress dissent in a December 11 speech, warning, “Anyone who demoralizes the people is guilty and will be dealt with,” in an effort to contain the backlash from the regime’s regional failures.

Domestically, the retreat has amplified public anger over the regime’s foreign misadventures. With inflation soaring and poverty spreading, many Iranians question why billions were spent in Syria while their basic needs remain unmet. Families of IRGC soldiers who perished in Syria are demanding accountability, further eroding support for the regime among its base.

At the same time, Iranian proxies across the Middle East, who once saw Tehran as a formidable power, are increasingly disillusioned. Putin’s revelations of disorganized withdrawals have only deepened doubts about Tehran’s ability to sustain its influence.

Despite Khamenei’s attempts to silence dissent and preserve the regime’s narrative, the fallout from its strategic blunders continues to fuel resistance at home and abroad. The growing disillusionment within its ranks and the public’s anger over years of mismanagement may well be the tipping point in Tehran’s struggle for survival.

Source » ncr-iran