The story: The end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule in Syria has brought with it a slew of uncertainties that are raising concerns in Iran. Some Iranians worry about pervasive instability while others argue for the need to strengthen relations with China to weather a coming storm. This comes as Sunni rebels appear to be honoring a reported arrangement with Iran to avoid targeting Shiite holy sites, including a major shrine in Damascus.

Meanwhile, as the Islamic Republic’s “forward defense” doctrine is being questioned, there are calls for the nuclear program to be...