Iran's Revolutionary Guards commander, Hossein Salami, insisted that the Islamic Republic remains strong despite the fall of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In a closed session with Iranian parliament members, Salami emphasized that Iran's power had not been diminished, despite the political shifts in Syria.
Since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, Iran and Russia had been key supporters of Assad's regime, providing military aid and forces to maintain his rule. The Iranian government has used its presence in Syria to bolster its "Axis of Resistance" against U.S. and Israeli influence in the Middle East.
Although Assad's fall challenges Iran’s influence, particularly in sustaining its network of militia groups in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Salami reaffirmed that Iran’s broader objectives, including the ousting of Israel, remain unchanged.
He also clarified that Iranian forces no longer remain in Syria, and Iran's foreign ministry has called for a national dialogue to form an inclusive Syrian government, stressing respect for Syria's territorial integrity.
