A man burns a picture of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad close to Syria's border with Lebanon
Assad’s downfall is bad news for Iran
The collapse of the Syrian dictator’s regime will weaken Tehran in profound ways both economically and geopolitically
The rapid collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has triggered profound shifts in the Middle East, rapidly reshaping the region’s geopolitical dynamics. This change can be attributed to the growing discord between Iran and Russia, coupled with Turkey's opportunistic approach towards the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. Iran's strategic plans, including the use of Syria as a transit hub for its proxies and a route to the Mediterranean, are now in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Turkey has seized the opportunity to enhance its regional influence. This evolving situation is expected to shift the power balance in West Asia, leaving Iran in a weakened position as it becomes more dependent on China and
Also in this section
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
14 January 2026
Chavez’s socialist reforms boosted state control but pushed knowledge and capital out of the sector, opening the way for the US shale revolution
