In the days leading up to his removal, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed to Iran‘s foreign minister his grievances regarding Turkey‘s active support for Sunni rebels attempting to overthrow him, as reported by two Iranian officials to Reuters this week. The Assad family’s five-decade rule came to an end on Sunday when he sought refuge in Moscow, where he was granted asylum. Iran had been a staunch ally of Assad during Syria’s prolonged civil conflict, and his ousting was perceived as a significant setback for the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance,” a coalition opposing U.S. and Israeli influence in the region.

As forces from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously linked to al Qaeda, captured key cities and moved closer to the capital, Assad met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Damascus on December 2. During this meeting, Assad expressed his frustration over what he described as Turkey’s escalated attempts to remove him, according to a senior Iranian official. Araqchi reassured Assad of Iran’s unwavering support and committed to addressing the matter with Ankara, the official noted.

The following day, Araqchi held discussions with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to convey Tehran’s serious concerns regarding Turkey’s backing of rebel movements. “The meeting was marked by tension. Iran articulated its dissatisfaction with Turkey’s alignment with U.S. and Israeli interests and communicated Assad’s worries,” a second Iranian official stated, highlighting Ankara’s support for the rebels and its collaboration with Western and Israeli efforts against Iran’s allies in the region.

Fidan attributed the crisis to Assad, claiming that his reluctance to participate in meaningful peace negotiations and his prolonged oppressive governance were fundamental factors contributing to the conflict. A source from the Turkish foreign ministry, who was familiar with Fidan’s discussions, clarified that these were not Fidan’s exact words and noted that Araqchi did not deliver any messages from Assad to Turkey, without providing further details.

During a press conference in Doha on Sunday, Fidan remarked that the Assad regime had “wasted valuable time” in addressing the issues plaguing Syria, instead permitting “a gradual deterioration and collapse of the regime.” On Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that the effort to oust Assad was orchestrated by the United States and Israel. He indicated that one of Syria’s neighboring countries was also involved and continues to play a role, seemingly alluding to Turkey without naming it.

Turkey, a NATO member, has controlled significant areas in northern Syria following multiple cross-border operations against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and has been a key supporter of opposition factions seeking to remove Assad since the civil war erupted in 2011. The potential fall of Assad would significantly undermine Iran and its ally Hezbollah, as their relationship with Damascus has facilitated Iran’s influence through a land corridor extending from its western border through Iraq to Lebanon, enabling arms supplies to Hezbollah.

Throughout the conflict, Iran invested billions to support Assad and deployed its Revolutionary Guards to maintain his regime. Hezbollah also played a crucial role by sending fighters to assist Assad, but in the past year, many had to return to Lebanon to engage in a challenging conflict with Israel, a shift that has weakened the Syrian government’s defenses.