Iran's strategy in Syria has been described as a "Shiite Sykes-Picot." Tehran pressured the Assad regime to grant citizenship to hundreds of thousands of Shiites—mostly from Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan—who were enticed to settle in Syria with generous financial incentives.
The goal was to shift the demographic balance in Iran-controlled areas, particularly around Damascus and Shiite religious sites.
With the rise of Matar al-Julani, who now dominates Syria, a reversal has begun. According to unofficial sources, a decision has been made to revoke the Syrian citizenship granted to around 700,000 foreigners during the Syrian civil war. These individuals received citizenship through irregular means as part of a broader Iranian plan to embed loyalists within the population. The revocation is expected to take effect soon.
Syrian opposition groups have long warned of this sectarian naturalization policy. They cite Iran’s use of militias, citizenship grants, and real estate purchases to reengineer Syria's social fabric. This was especially evident in neighborhoods around Sayyida Zaynab, which became hubs for Iranian cultural and religious institutions.