Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have issued a 25-page open letter to the American public urging opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies, as Tehran awaits a formal US response to proposals aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing the seven-month conflict.
At a news conference in Tehran on Tuesday, IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi presented the letter as a direct appeal to Americans weeks before the 3 November US midterm elections. He urged people to protest against what he described as Washington’s war policies and reconsider the country’s political leadership.
The letter argues that Iran and the United States could coexist peacefully if Washington changed its policies towards Tehran, particularly its military involvement in the region and support for Israel. The Guards also disputed Trump administration claims about Iran’s nuclear programme and the effectiveness of US efforts to weaken Tehran’s control over shipping through the Gulf.
Mohebbi told reporters that he did not expect the message to change the US administration’s position, but said Iranian officials believed American voters might respond differently if they had more information about the conflict.
In remarks to the Associated Press, Mohebbi explicitly called on Americans to take to the streets and protest Trump’s policies. He also said the war would end only if Washington acknowledged what Iran regards as its failure and withdrew. Those assertions reflect the Iranian government’s position and are disputed by the Trump administration, which has repeatedly said it is increasing pressure on Tehran.
The appeal came as diplomatic contacts continued over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Qatari mediators had discussed new ideas with Tehran and were expected to present them to the United States before conveying Washington’s final response back to Iran.
Araghchi said late on Monday that he hoped a US answer would arrive on Tuesday. As of the latest available reports, Tehran was still waiting for that formal response.
The current discussions build on a proposal submitted by Iran during the UN General Assembly in New York. Mediators have been working on arrangements that could initially reopen the strait and lift the US naval blockade, followed by negotiations over sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme.
The United States has sought Iranian concessions on nuclear inspections, while Tehran has demanded measures including an end to restrictions on its oil exports and the release of frozen assets. US officials have expressed doubts over whether a wider agreement can be reached, while saying a negotiated outcome remains possible.
Trump on Tuesday denied reports that his administration had offered Iran sanctions relief or access to frozen funds, writing that he had offered Tehran “NOTHING”. Separate diplomatic contacts through intermediaries nevertheless continued.
Iran also sharpened its public warnings on Tuesday.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that if Iran was prevented from selling oil, other countries in the region should not expect to export theirs freely. He also warned that regional infrastructure would not be secure if Iran’s own security was not guaranteed.
The statements came as Iran faces mounting economic pressure. The rial fell beyond 2.5 million to the US dollar on Tuesday, a record low, after having already weakened sharply during the conflict.
Despite months of disruption and attacks around Hormuz, oil traffic through the waterway has partially recovered. September flows are expected to reach close to 10 million barrels per day, roughly half their pre-war level, according to shipping data cited by Reuters.
The immediate focus of the diplomacy remains whether Washington accepts, rejects or seeks further changes to the latest proposal conveyed through Qatar.
