The Internal Crisis of the Iranian Regime After the Defeat in Syria... Reflections on Khamenei's Statements
January 5, 2025, 9:30 am

The Internal Crisis of the Iranian Regime After the Defeat in Syria... Reflections on Khamenei's Statements

محمود حكميان

Finally, four days after Bashar al-Assad's fall, Ali Khamenei broke his silence and stated in a speech that the Syrian youth will rearrange matters in Syria. But the real question is: why did the Iranian regime fail to save Bashar al-Assad?

In reality, Bashar al-Assad's regime was solely based on crimes, violence, murder, and executions. The images currently being shown from Assad's prisons depict horrific and sobering scenes. The notorious prison in Saydnaya, for example, is a model that Bashar al-Assad inherited from his father and his mentor, Ali Khamenei. His father, who was equally a criminal, brutally suppressed the uprising in the city of Hama in 1982. At that time, some pilots refused to carry out the bombings and were arrested. Some were executed, while others remained in prison until Bashar al-Assad's downfall.

The point here is that the Iranian regime itself does not possess the capacity to remain in power. After October 7 and the war that erupted in the region, Mr. Massoud Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian resistance, clearly stated that the Iranian regime aimed to temporarily cover up the uprising of the Iranian people under the guise of so-called victory. He emphasized that while this war was a display of tactical power, the strategic loser is Khamenei. As days passed, this became increasingly evident.

These combined events led to the collapse of the support that formed the base of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship, namely the Iranian regime and Hezbollah. They no longer have the ability to withstand, and Assad's army collapsed. Khamenei was so confused that he remained silent for four days. It can be said that the Iranian regime received a blow that disturbed its balance, a balance that will never return. It's akin to a body that has been cut in half.

Khamenei's own statements were striking and reflected his imbalance. He said that the events in Syria were an American-Israeli conspiracy involving a neighboring state. He added, “In these difficult circumstances, we provided everything Syria needed, but Israel and America closed the skies and roads, and we could not deliver the aid.”

These statements are clear evidence that the Iranian regime is facing a genuine crisis. Khamenei added that "resistance is not weakened by pressure but grows stronger. The Syrian people are being killed now, but this increases the motives for resistance."

Internally, the Iranian regime faces a worsening crisis. Some are questioning: why did we go to Syria and spend $50 billion between 2012 and 2020? However, Khamenei justified this by stating: “We went to Syria for two reasons: to protect holy sites and to confront instability in Syria and Iraq, as their stability impacts Iran's security.” He added that “our operation was advisory, but the Syrian army had to fight the war, with assistance from the Basij forces coming from other places. If the army showed weakness, the Basij forces would not be able to do anything, and that is what happened.”

Khamenei also emphasized the importance of not underestimating the enemy and stressed the necessity of continuing resistance. He mentioned that Iranian intelligence warned Syrian officials several months ago, but they did not listen. Nevertheless, he stated that “Syrian youth will liberate the occupied areas, and the resistance front will drive America out of the region.”

At the end of his remarks, Khamenei warned that “anyone who speaks about the Syrian issue in a way that instills fear among the people is a criminal and must be dealt with by the judiciary.”

All of these matters reflect the extent of tensions within the Iranian regime, and these tensions will undoubtedly increase in the future.

**Levant: Mahmoud Hakmian**

Demanding Guarantees for Minorities.. Baerbock: We Will Judge Al-Jolani Through His Actions Kamel Saqr's Testimonies: Details of the Last Moments Before Bashar al-Assad's Regime Fell

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.