The story: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's recent trip to Tehran is seen by Iranian media and officials as an indicator of the comradery between the two nations. The precise reason for Assad's previously unannounced trip—or why his visit was kept under wraps—remains unclear. However, there are some speculations that Iran could be moving to fill the vacuum left by any Russian withdrawal from Syria as a result of the war in Ukraine.

The coverage: Assad's May 8 trip to Tehran was reported only after the Syrian president had left the Iranian capital. He met separately with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and conservative President Ebrahim Raisi...