Assad and Ayatollah Khamenei in front of the new Syrian flag. Photo: AP / Hussein Malla
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime was a real blow to the Iranian authorities. The ayatollahs’ regime, which has spent billions for years supporting its proxy allies in Syria, is facing a wave of criticism that has swept across all sectors of Iranian society. Indignation is heard not only on social media but also in the official media, and previously loyal citizens are openly questioning the government’s actions, Vesti Ynet writes.
Criticism of the regime is growing
The main topic of discontent was the astronomical costs of supporting Bashar al-Assad during the 13-year war in Syria. According to media reports, Iran spent more than $30 billion on this, but after Assad’s fall, these investments proved to be in vain. Ordinary citizens complain that instead of solving domestic problems, such as the economic crisis and power outages, the money was used to support foreign allies, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
One of the former Iranian military officers, Alireza Mukrami, called Iran’s strategy in Syria a “catastrophic failure”. In his post, he wrote:
“Why was the people’s money poured into Assad, who did not even listen to Iranian advice?”
Other commentators have noted that Assad’s fall was an event for Iran similar to the fall of the Berlin Wall for the Soviet Union.
Netanyahu’s reaction and reflection of the mood
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Iranian people not to lose hope. In his speech, he stressed that the huge resources spent on supporting the “axis of evil” were stolen from the people of Iran.
“The regime has spent tens of billions of dollars supporting terrorist groups, but it was your money. Imagine how much good could have been done for Iranians by spending this money on education, healthcare or infrastructure,” Netanyahu said.
He also stressed that the real fear of the ayatollahs’ regime is their own people.
“Your regime is afraid of you, the people of Iran. But the day will come when Iran will be free. This is your future, and it is closer than it seems,” the Israeli Prime Minister added.
The regime loses control
Analysts say that after Assad’s fall, the situation in Iran could become critical. Opposition activists are already calling on the people to rejoice at the end of Iranian investment in Syria and demand a review of the country’s foreign policy.
The authorities are trying to stem the tide of criticism, but as even commentators close to the ayatollahs admit, public debate is spreading and becoming more open.
Experts predict that if the economic crisis and dissatisfaction with the regime continue to grow, Iran may witness large-scale protests that have the potential to escalate into a revolution.
