In the last 24 hours, statements by Iranian officials have exposed the growing dread within the regime as it struggles to contain the fallout from its regional defeats, domestic unrest, and infighting among its ranks. The regime’s attempts to project strength have instead highlighted its vulnerabilities and the fear gripping its leadership.
In a display of bravado, IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami appeared on a warship in Bandar Abbas to claim that Iran’s regional influence remains intact. “They want to say Iran has lost its regional arms. The remarks of Imam Khamenei about the Zionists were not analysis but the exact reality,” Salami declared, in a clear attempt to deflect attention from the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. To reassure demoralized forces, he added, “This inexhaustible power in our hands will show the true meaning of resistance and strength when conditions for its emergence—provided by the enemy—are met.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaee dismissed international efforts to dissolve Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, claiming such decisions rest with the region’s actors. “The Americans or other parties, who have never wished well for the region, cannot pressure countries to determine their methods of self-defense,” he said, reflecting the regime’s fear of losing its influence in Iraq and beyond.
Why #Syria’s Regime Change Shakes #Tehran to Its Corehttps://t.co/ADsRiQDtSW
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 11, 2024
Domestically, the regime’s worsening economic crisis has heightened tensions. Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i urged security agencies to collaborate closely to prevent unrest. “The enemy is fiercely attempting to create psychological insecurity among the people through various forms of disinformation,” he said, echoing the regime’s fear of growing public discontent and attempts to link domestic unrest to foreign conspiracies.
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has particularly unnerved Tehran, which relied heavily on Damascus as a key regional ally. In an effort to rally internal forces, regime media have amplified anti-opposition rhetoric. The regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has refused to acknowledge that Assad was overthrown by the overwhelming majority of the Syrian population, instead labeling it a “Western-Zionist conspiracy.” His denial reflects a deeper fear of parallels to his own situation, as the people of Iran have been calling for his ousting for decades. Despite this defiance, criticism of the regime’s costly and failing regional strategy is increasingly surfacing within its own ranks.
In his remarks at the Imam Hossein University on December 23, the regime’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf delved deeper into the internal and external pressures facing the regime, revealing the extent of the dissent among its ranks. He pointed out that critics, both domestic and international, are challenging the regime’s strategic decisions, particularly its involvement in Syria.
#Khamenei’s Crisis Speech Highlights Declining Power Amid Strategic Setbackshttps://t.co/70C6PGIKSg
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 22, 2024
“Some say, ‘You lacked the strength to stand your ground,’ or, ‘You invested resources and gained nothing.’ Others claim, ‘You should have known Syria would fall.’” Ghalibaf acknowledged these criticisms but sought to frame them as part of a broader psychological war waged by the regime’s enemies. “There are those who argue that we should accept global powers and align with the new world order, claiming that our national security and interests depend on it,” he said, warning against any form of compromise or retreat that could fracture the regime’s ideological foundation. +
Adding to the turmoil, reports of infighting among Iran’s proxies and allies have further embarrassed the regime. The recent killing of senior Quds Force officer Keyumars Pourhashemi in Syria, allegedly by a Syrian military officer, has raised questions about Tehran’s ability to maintain control over its operations. To counter these claims, the regime has insisted that Pourhashemi was killed by an American infiltrator, attempting to shift blame and preserve its narrative of strength.
Mohammad-Jafar Asadi, Deputy Inspector of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters and a former IRGC commander in Syria told the state-run Entekhab: “These statements are nothing but Israeli fabrications aimed at driving a wedge between Iran, the Syrian army, and Bashar al-Assad. All of these allegations come from the West.”
The MEK’s Growing Influence Sparks Iran Regime’s Fear and Desperationhttps://t.co/2cUTDRbhXp
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 23, 2023
Meanwhile, the regime’s fear of its arch-enemy, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), has also become increasingly evident. Hamshahri, a regime-aligned newspaper, claimed that MEK and NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi are pushing for a “domino effect” to topple Tehran following Assad’s collapse. The paper accused the MEK of coordinating with “American-Zionist operatives” to destabilize Iran, highlighting the regime’s paranoia over the organization’s influence and its potential role in fueling unrest.
In another sign of desperation, Tasnim News, affiliated with the IRGC, alleged that rumors about Masoud Pezeshkian’s resignation were part of a coordinated psychological operation led by the MEK. “This shows a coordinated effort between foreign groups and internal dissenters to destabilize the state,” the outlet claimed, underscoring the regime’s increasing reliance on conspiracy theories to justify its struggles.
As Tehran’s leaders attempt to hold their ground, their statements reveal a regime deeply rattled by its own failures. The collapse of regional allies, the threat of domestic uprisings, and the resurgence of its ideological opponents have pushed the regime into a state of unprecedented fear and insecurity.