{"id":326740,"date":"2024-12-16T18:05:29","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T17:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=326740"},"modified":"2024-12-16T18:05:29","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T17:05:29","slug":"iranian-officials-respond-to-syrian-regimes-fall-exposing-deep-anxieties-and-strategic-fear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/terrorism-a-fundamentalism\/iranian-officials-respond-to-syrian-regimes-fall-exposing-deep-anxieties-and-strategic-fear\/","title":{"rendered":"Iranian Officials Respond to Syrian Regime’s Fall, Exposing Deep Anxieties and Strategic Fear"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Posters of the slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah were torn down outside the Iranian regime’s embassy in Damascus, Syria, December 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three-minute read<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has triggered widespread alarm within Iran\u2019s ruling establishment. Statements from top officials reveal an effort to downplay the strategic loss while grappling with the growing fear of similar consequences at home. Their direct remarks shed light on the regime\u2019s internal turmoil and its struggle to maintain control over narratives and public sentiment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mohammad Saeedi<\/span><\/a>, Friday prayer leader in Qom, sought to temper the regime\u2019s base, stating, <\/span>\u201cIn the ups and downs of resistance, there may be occasional failures, but we must not despair over these setbacks.\u201d<\/span><\/i> His tone echoed the regime\u2019s broader attempts to maintain morale while minimizing the scale of the strategic blow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, <\/span>Ahmad Alamolhoda<\/span><\/a>, Khamenei\u2019s representative in Mashhad, acknowledged the disquieting nature of recent developments, referring to them as <\/span>\u201cdistressing and anxiety-inducing events in the resistance front.\u201d<\/span><\/i> Alamolhoda accused social media of spreading <\/span>\u201chopelessness among our people regarding the power of the resistance,\u201d<\/span><\/i> but claimed the Supreme Leader\u2019s guidance had effectively countered these narratives. He warned that <\/span>\u201cwriting and verbal corruption\u201d aimed at undermining the regime would not succeed.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a more defensive tone, <\/span>Mohammad Reza Nasouri<\/span><\/a>, Friday prayer leader in Sari, cautioned against both fear and complacency, saying, <\/span>\u201cSome people are filled with doubt; some are filled with fear. Let\u2019s not belittle the situation, but also, let\u2019s not despair. Let\u2019s not say the blood of our martyrs was wasted.\u201d<\/span><\/i> His words betrayed the regime\u2019s effort to balance denial with reassurances for its increasingly skeptical audience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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#Iranian<\/a> Regime\u2019s Actions and Statements Reveal Scramble to Contain Fallout from #Assad<\/a>\u2019s Collapsehttps:\/\/t.co\/WZBVMGWw8s<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n