The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has dealt a devastating blow to the Iranian regime, leaving it grappling with its vulnerabilities. In a speech delivered on Sunday, December 22, the regime’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, expressed his growing concern over the potential for domestic unrest fueled by the regime’s weakened state. Addressing a group of regime panegyrists, Khamenei’s rhetoric highlighted the mounting challenges facing his rule.
Warnings Against Dissent
Khamenei’s speech centered on warnings about “doubt,” “intimidation,” “discord,” and “desperation,” which he attributed to external and internal enemies of the regime. He labeled protesters as “troublemakers” and cautioned against what he termed the “triad of intimidation, discord, and creating despair.” Accusing the West of fomenting unrest, he said, “An American official says that we will help anyone who disturbs in Iran. The fools have smelled opportunity.” He then vowed that “The Iranian nation will trample underfoot any U.S. mercenary who accepts this role.”
The regime has consistently dismissed domestic protests as riots orchestrated by foreign actors. Khamenei’s comments came amidst rising tensions, as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz had openly criticized the Iranian regime just nine days earlier. During a speech, Cruz asserted, “The Ayatollah is in a panic because the regime’s revenue is disappearing. Not only that, but Iran’s proxies—from Hamas to Hezbollah to Bashar Assad in Syria—have utterly collapsed.” He further predicted the regime’s downfall, stating, “The Ayatollah will fall. The mullahs will fall, and we will see free and democratic elections in Iran.”
Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump has explicitly denied any plans to intervene directly in Iran regime’s internal politics.
Internal Divisions and Critique
Khamenei’s rhetoric also addressed growing internal criticism of the regime’s Middle East policies. The Supreme Leader dismissed claims that Iran’s influence was waning, asserting, “The Islamic Republic does not have a proxy force.” However, this statement contradicts Iran’s well-documented deployment of militias like Fatemiyoun and Zainebiyoun—comprised of Afghan and Pakistani fighters—to support Assad’s forces during the Syrian civil war.
Despite Khamenei’s denials, Iranian newspapers have acknowledged the strategic setback. Ham Mihan, in a December 20 article titled “The Consequences of Assad’s Fall for Iran,” wrote: “The fall of Bashar Assad is not only an important event for Syria but also has consequences for the Middle East. Tehran’s sudden withdrawal from Syria is a strategic and military damage to Iran. The axis of resistance is no longer able to provide deterrence to Tehran.”
Similarly, Setareh-e Sobh stated, “With the fall of Assad, the playing ground for Iran has changed. The conditions of the world and the region are not in Iran’s favor.”
Admission of Defeat
In a briefing session with IRGC officials, Hossein Taeb, the former head of the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization, admitted, “Certainly, with the fall of Assad, the resistance front has been damaged. This is an undeniable fact.” Such candid acknowledgments underscore the gravity of the situation for Tehran.
A Warning for Khamenei’s Rule
The collapse of Assad’s regime signifies more than a strategic loss for Iran; it serves as a warning for the survival of Khamenei’s own rule under the system of Velayat al-Faqih. The loss of its most significant regional ally highlights the Iranian regime’s diminishing capacity to sustain its influence across the Middle East. As criticism mounts and domestic unrest simmers, the Iranian regime faces an increasingly precarious future.
Source » irannewsupdate