TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claimed on Wednesday that the recent ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was the result of a plan orchestrated by the United States, Israel, and an unnamed neighboring country.
“We have evidence of this conspiracy,” Mr. Khamenei said, without elaborating.
In the wake of Assad’s fall, Iran’s foreign ministry called for a national dialogue to establish an inclusive government representing all segments of Syrian society. “The Syrian people should decide their own fate,” government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday, emphasizing respect for Syria’s territorial integrity.
Iran had been a key supporter of Assad since the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, sending Revolutionary Guard forces and resources to shore up his regime as part of Tehran’s broader strategy to counter U.S. and Israeli influence in the region.
Optimism emerges in Damascus
In Damascus, residents expressed cautious optimism for Syria’s future following Assad’s ouster, which came after a 12-day rebel offensive that swept through the capital.
“We congratulate the great Syrian people on the victory of this blessed revolution after enduring suffering for nearly 13 years,” said Hassan El Musafah, a Damascus resident. “This is a transition from injustice and tyranny to freedom and rebuilding.”
Near the Al-Hejaz railway station, some citizens were seen stepping on discarded portraits of Assad and the official Syrian flag. Others shared hopes for a brighter future.
“We hope the upcoming stage will bring goodness to all Syrians,” said Jamal Hassan El Sujari, another resident.
New leadership, enormous challenges
On Tuesday, Mohammed al-Bashir, a previously little-known figure who led the rebel-led Salvation Government, announced he would serve as interim prime minister. Rebuilding Syria, he acknowledged, would be an immense challenge following 13 years of civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, reduced cities to rubble, and displaced millions of Syrians.
The conflict has left the economy in tatters, with vast swathes of the country depopulated and international sanctions compounding the devastation.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis appealed for stability in Syria, urging rebel leaders to pursue a peaceful political resolution.
“I hope they find a political solution that, without other conflicts or divisions, responsibly promotes the stability and unity of the country,” the pope said during an address at the Vatican. “I pray for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, that the Syrian people can live in peace and security in their beloved land.”
