The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a terrorist organization formally belonging to the Iranian armed forces, published a 26-page open letter to the American people on Tuesday inviting Americans to visit the Strait of Hormuz, insisting “death to America” did not mean Iran wished death on America, and suggesting the September 11, 2001, jihadist attacks were a “false-flag operation.”
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 30, 2026
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued an unusually direct message to the American public, arguing that its long-used slogan “Death to America” is aimed at the U.S. political establishment rather than ordinary Americans.
The 26-page open letter, released September 29 and addressed to the “honorable people of the United States of America,” accused the Trump administration of misleading Americans about the war with Iran and urged U.S. voters to challenge the politicians responsible for the conflict. Reuters and Al Jazeera both reported on the letter.
The message comes as the conflict enters its eighth month and Washington and Tehran continue indirect diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring a collapsed ceasefire.
IRGC Tries to Separate Americans From U.S. Government
A central theme of the Iranian message was an attempt to distinguish the American population from the U.S. government.
The IRGC argued that Iranian hostility is directed toward what it described as the U.S. political leadership rather than American citizens.
Regarding the phrase “Death to America,” the letter said the slogan refers to the elimination of what it calls the “ruling elite” based in Washington. Al Jazeera reported that the letter specifically characterized the slogan as being directed at the political establishment rather than the American people.
The letter also portrayed Americans and Iranians as sharing similar grievances against their respective political leaderships.
The IRGC urged Americans to “wake up” and take political action against officials it blamed for the war.
Reuters reported that the Guard called on U.S. voters to remove politicians it accused of being responsible for the conflict and America’s current situation.
Iran Claims Victory in the War
The letter also presented Tehran’s version of the conflict, declaring Iran the victor and arguing that U.S. and Israeli military operations had failed to accomplish their stated objectives.
According to Al Jazeera’s account of the letter, Iran claimed that thousands of bombs and missiles had been used against Iranian targets but that only portions of Iran’s nuclear and air-defense infrastructure had been damaged.
Those claims are part of Tehran’s broader information campaign surrounding the war and represent the Iranian government’s characterization of the military situation.
President Donald Trump has presented a substantially different assessment, saying Iran is suffering severe economic and military pressure and will eventually surrender. Reuters reported Wednesday that Trump again said Iran was “doing very poorly” and would ultimately give up.
IRGC Spokesman Accuses Washington of Misleading Americans
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi reinforced the message during a September 29 press conference.
Mohebbi accused the Trump administration of misleading the American public and said he believed many Americans were unaware of what Tehran described as the consequences of the U.S. military campaign.
He argued that greater public awareness would lead Americans to pressure their government to change course.
The White House had not responded to Al Jazeera’s request for comment when that report was published.
Nuclear Program Remains a Central Dispute
Iran’s message also addressed one of the fundamental disputes behind the conflict: its nuclear program.
Trump has repeatedly cited concerns over Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons as a justification for U.S. military action.
Tehran continues to deny that it is seeking nuclear weapons. Mohebbi said Iran’s adversaries know that Tehran is not pursuing such weapons and accused Washington of using the nuclear issue as a justification for the war.
The competing claims over Iran’s nuclear activities remain one of the major obstacles in negotiations between the two governments.
Strait of Hormuz Adds Pressure to the Conflict
The IRGC statement also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global energy markets.
Iran has restricted shipping through the strait during the conflict, while the United States has imposed a blockade. Iranian officials have disputed U.S. claims that Tehran has lost much of its leverage over the waterway.
Al Jazeera reported that oil flows through the strait had recovered to approximately 13.2 million barrels per day during the week covered by its report, representing roughly 77 percent of the pre-war level, according to Kpler data.
Reuters reported September 30 that shipping had increased in recent weeks, although crude oil, refined products and natural-gas flows remained substantially disrupted.
Diplomacy Continues Despite Sharp Rhetoric
The IRGC’s appeal to Americans came as diplomatic efforts continued behind the scenes.
Iran submitted a proposal aimed at restoring an interim ceasefire under which Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports while Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said he had rejected the proposal, although Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had not initially received a formal rejection. Iran later said it had received a U.S. response through diplomatic channels.
Qatar has been involved in facilitating indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran. Reuters reported that the two sides appeared to agree on some of the steps necessary for a settlement but remained divided over the order in which those steps should occur.
U.S. Withdrawal From Iraq Changes the Regional Picture
The latest Iranian message also comes as the United States completes its military withdrawal from Iraq.
Reuters reported September 30 that the final U.S. forces had left Iraq after more than two decades of American military involvement there. The remaining U.S. regional posture is consequently being reorganized while the Iran conflict continues.
Iran and its allied armed groups portrayed the withdrawal as a victory, while analysts cited by Reuters warned that Iranian-backed groups could feel more empowered in Iraq following the departure of U.S. forces.
Reaching the American Public
The IRGC’s decision to directly address U.S. citizens reflects a broader effort by Tehran to communicate its interpretation of the conflict beyond traditional diplomatic channels.
Al Jazeera reported that Iran-linked media and online networks have also used English-language social media material, including AI-generated videos and memes, since the war began.
The open letter therefore serves both as a political message and as part of Iran’s wider effort to influence how the war is understood outside the country.
Its argument is straightforward: Tehran wants Americans to view the conflict as a confrontation with U.S. political leadership rather than with the American population itself.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has attempted to redefine one of its most recognizable slogans, telling Americans that “Death to America” is directed at the U.S. political establishment rather than ordinary citizens.
The unusual appeal comes at a critical moment in the conflict, with the United States withdrawing its remaining forces from Iraq and Washington and Tehran exchanging proposals aimed at reviving a ceasefire.
Whether the IRGC’s message gains traction among Americans is uncertain. What is clear is that Tehran is increasingly treating the American public as an important audience in the information battle surrounding the war.
SOURCES: BREITBART NEWS – Iran’s IRGC Terrorists to Americans: When We Say ‘Death to America,’ We Don’t Mean You
AL JAZEERA – Trump administration ‘must be changed’: Iran’s IRGC appeals to US voters
