Iran's Axis of Resistance Gains Ground as US Influence Declines

Iranian cleric Hojjatoleslam Seyed Mohammad‑Hassan Abou Torabi‑Fard told a Tehran Friday prayer that the United States has lost its status as the primary regional power, citing recent Iranian operations that he said destroyed U.S. aircraft, helicopters and air‑defence systems and struck a U.S. command centre in Jordan. He argued that Iran’s deterrence, backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allied militias, now forces Washington to face higher costs for any further aggression.

Analysts note that Iran‑backed militias across Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Gaza are re‑asserting their role in the so‑called “Axis of Resistance.” After a period of weakening following Israel’s 2023 response to the Hamas attack, these groups are again pressuring U.S. and Israeli forces, opening new fronts that could affect regional stability and the global economy. Experts say the Axis remains a potent deterrent and a strategic lever for Tehran in its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.