Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, regional and extra-regional actors have adopted diverse approaches due to the country’s geopolitical and geostrategic location. In this arena, the competition between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both of which at times supported the fall of Bashar al-Assad, quickly developed into a form of strategic confrontation that had important direct and indirect consequences for Iran’s interests and national security.
Iran, which considers the survival of the Assad regime and the continuation of its logistical lines to Lebanon and Hezbollah as part of its "strategic depth," pursued a policy based on consolidating its military presence, regional diplomacy, and strengthening proxy networks in the face of the wave of Turkish and Saudi support for various opposing political-ideological groups.
The confrontation between Ankara and Riyadh in Syria not only led to division and competition among the opposition, but also put pressure on Iran's geopolitical position in terms of logistical access, influence in regional Somalia, and political-economic costs for Tehran; as a result, Tehran was forced to redefine its tools (military, political, and soft) to maintain its strategic position in the axis of resistance.
The present analysis, focusing on the political, security, and diplomatic consequences of this competition, shows that the confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Turkey has had a dual function for Iran: on the one hand, a threat to the continuity of the fronts of influence, and on the other hand, opportunities for diplomatic maneuvering and regional balancing.