Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has fallen back on Tehran’s time-tested strategy of blaming Western powers for regional setbacks. Speaking to followers on Wednesday, Khamenei pointed fingers at the United States and Israel, accusing them of orchestrating what he called a “joint American and Zionist plan” to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.

“There should be no doubt that what has happened in Syria is the result of a joint American and Zionist plan. Yes, a neighboring country of Syria has played a clear role in this regard, continues to do so even now—this is evident to everyone—but the main conspirator, the primary planner, and the central command room are in the US and the Zionist entity,” Khamenei said.

In reality, Turkey’s substantial support for Sunni Muslim insurgent groups proved decisive in Assad’s quick demise, effectively dismantling Iran’s strategic “Shia crescent” that once stretched from Tehran to the Mediterranean.

More significantly, the loss of Assad severs Iran’s crucial land corridor to Lebanon, cutting off a vital supply route to Hezbollah. Despite these clear strategic setbacks, Iranian officials continue to blame the U.S. and Israel.

“Those who think Iran has been weakened with Assad’s fall rely on the flawed assumption that the resistance is a proxy force for Iran,” Iran’s Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with Didar News.

“Assad’s downfall resulted from his pride in defeating the armed opposition and his failure to turn that military victory into a win-win political agreement and establish an inclusive government,” he said.

Yet economic indicators tell a different story. The Iranian rial has plummeted to new lows, trading at over 730,000 to the dollar. With inflation approaching 50 percent and sanctions still constraining oil exports, Tehran’s rhetorical defiance masks mounting domestic challenges that no amount of anti-Western rhetoric can easily resolve.”