After Assad’s fall in Syria, could Iran’s Khamenei be next?

The recent resignation of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his decision to seek refuge in Russia represents a seismic shift in Middle East politics.

For more than a decade, Assad has been a critical lynchpin in Iran’s hegemonic aspirations, providing Tehran with a strategic ally in its so-called “Axis of Resistance,” and enabling its projection of power across the Levant.

Assad’s departure is a blow to this alliance, coming at a time when Iran is already grappling with significant challenges to its influence, particularly in Lebanon. Together, these developments raise the question: could Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei face a fate similar to Assad’s?

Read article in The Hill Times

Author

Andrew
Latham

Non-Resident Fellow