In his first public response to the sudden collapse of Syria's Assad regime, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has accused Israel and the United States of orchestrating the dramatic turn of events.
"This was undoubtedly planned in American and Israeli command rooms," Khamenei declared in a Wednesday morning address, though Western intelligence sources indicate they were caught off guard by Assad's fall.
In an unusual diplomatic move, Khamenei also pointed fingers at Turkey - without explicitly naming them - suggesting a "neighboring government" played a supporting role in Assad's overthrow. The careful avoidance of directly naming Turkey likely reflects Iran's desire to avoid tensions with President Erdogan's government.
Behind closed doors, the mood in Tehran is reportedly chaotic. A source within the Iranian regime told The Telegraph that senior officials are "hitting walls" and "shouting at each other" as they grapple with the strategic disaster.
"No one imagined Assad would flee," the source revealed. "We spent ten years keeping him in power - not because we loved him, but because we needed that proximity to Israel and Hezbollah."
Despite the setback, Khamenei struck a defiant tone, vowing that "resistance forces" would continue operating throughout the region. He promised that "zealous Syrian youth" would eventually reclaim "occupied areas" and drive American forces from the region.
The collapse of the Assad regime represents one of Iran's biggest strategic losses in recent years, potentially weakening its influence across the Middle East and its ability to supply weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
While Khamenei insisted Iran would maintain "friendly relations" with Syria going forward, rebel forces have already engaged in battles with Iranian-backed militias across the country.
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
