Iran’s once-grand plan to transform post-war Syria into a loyal regional satellite has collapsed in dramatic fashion, according to a trove of confidential documents obtained by Reuters from the Iranian embassy in Damascus. The blueprint, drawn up in 2022, envisioned Tehran embedding itself deep into Syria’s economy, politics, and security apparatus. But the sudden fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 has left those ambitions in ruins. The newly installed Syrian government, composed largely of rebel factions hostile to Tehran, has moved to dismantle Iran’s presence. Iranian military officers, diplomats, and economic envoys have withdrawn from Damascus. Cultural centers funded by Tehran have shuttered. Contracts worth billions—spanning oil, mining, and telecom—have been torn up or handed over to rival powers. Iran’s plan, detailed in the leaked documents, was to dominate Syria’s post-civil war reconstruction in return for years of military and financial support to Assad. The strategy hinged on long-term agreements, soft-power influence, and the placement of Iranian allies in key Syrian institutions. But what was supposed to be a strategic jewel in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” has instead turned into a costly blunder. The report lays bare the scale of Iran’s involvement—spanning education, energy, telecom, and internal security—and the central role played by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Spearheaded by senior officer Abbas Akbari, the IRGC’s efforts to sidestep U.S. sanctions and fast-track projects often foundered in a maze of Syrian bureaucracy, corruption, and competing interests from Russia and other actors. Now, with a new Syrian leadership firmly closing the door on Iranian influence, Tehran finds itself ousted from a country it once helped prop up. Iran’s cultural institutes have been repurposed. Its oil and phosphate deals have vanished. Even its once-strong political alliances in Damascus have eroded overnight. The fallout marks a stinging defeat for Iran’s long-standing regional ambitions. With Syria no longer a pliant client state, Tehran is left to reckon with the high cost of its intervention—measured not just in billions of dollars, but in lost leverage, credibility, and strategic depth. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)