{"id":325962,"date":"2024-11-21T21:16:56","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T20:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=325962"},"modified":"2024-11-21T21:16:56","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T20:16:56","slug":"larijanis-trip-signals-iran-regimes-desperation-to-maintain-control-in-lebanon-and-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/terrorism-a-fundamentalism\/larijanis-trip-signals-iran-regimes-desperation-to-maintain-control-in-lebanon-and-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"Larijani\u2019s Trip Signals Iran Regime\u2019s Desperation to Maintain Control in Lebanon and Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Two-minute read<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, recently traveled to Syria and Lebanon amid heightened regional tensions. His mission, framed as a gesture of support for Iran’s allies, has been widely interpreted as a damage-control effort following major setbacks in the clerical regime\u2019s regional strategy.<\/p>\n

State media, including ISNA<\/em><\/a> (November 16), portrayed Larijani’s trip as a demonstration of Iran’s “high-level commitment” to regional stability. State-affiliated political analyst Morteza Maki claimed Larijani\u2019s message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was a reminder that Tehran’s decisions reflect its highest authority, not merely its government. However, this narrative appears designed to obscure Iran\u2019s waning influence amid geopolitical shifts in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

The timing of Larijani\u2019s visit coincides with critical developments challenging Iran\u2019s influence:<\/p>\n

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  1. Lebanon’s Fragile Ceasefire Efforts<\/strong>: Lebanese leaders, including Speaker Nabih Berri, are reportedly advancing discussions on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701<\/a>, which calls for Hezbollah\u2019s disarmament and a return to Lebanese state sovereignty. The prospect of Hezbollah being forced to cede its armed presence south of the Litani River threatens a core pillar of Iran\u2019s so-called \u201cResistance Axis.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. Syrian Drift Toward Arab States<\/strong>: Reports of Bashar al-Assad leaning toward closer ties with Arab nations have raised concerns in Tehran about losing its strategic foothold<\/a> in Syria. Iran\u2019s attempts to reassert influence through Larijani underline these fears.<\/li>\n
  3. Israeli Retaliation and Escalation<\/strong>: Larijani\u2019s visit coincided with intensified Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and Syria, targeting key Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad figures. These attacks have exposed the vulnerabilities in Iran\u2019s regional network of proxies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Leaked document exposes #Iranian<\/a> regime's financial support for #Syria<\/a>. What are the implications of Billions of dollars squandered to prop up #Assad<\/a>'s regime?https:\/\/t.co\/z4Ol9DSoHd<\/a><\/p>\n

    — NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 11, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n