On September 29, 2026, Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), read a text titled "letter to the American people" at a press conference in Tehran. The letter was apparently addressed to the American public and was released before the November midterm elections. In it, the IRGC called on the American people to take to the streets and protest against President Donald Trump and his administration's war policies, claiming that the war in the Middle East had failed.

Contents of the letter This 25-page letter was released by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday, September 29, addressed to the American people. The letter begins with greetings and blessings to the prophets and explains the beginning of the war, the killing of 168 students and teachers at the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, and the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and his family. The letter further claims that more than 3,600 Iranians, including 400 children, have been killed in the war, and that eight universities, three hospitals, and eight schools have been bombed and United States and Israel were defeated in the war and that the Islamic Republic of Iran emerged victorious. In this letter, the authors reveal hidden truths to the American people.

The letter also called on the American people to oppose U.S. support for Israel and foreign wars, and stated that if U.S. policy changed, the two countries could live peacefully side by side. The letter accused Trump of hiding the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and spoke about Iran’s oil blockade in the Persian Gulf.

The IRGC distinguishes between the U.S. government and the American people in the letter, stating: “the nations of Iran and America are both, each in their own way, victims” of the “corrupt politicians” in the White House. “We share the same pain,” the letter said. Of course, this is not the first time that Iran has tried to communicate with the American people. Since the war began on February 28, 2026, Iranian media outlets have tried to share Iran's view of the conflict with the American public by publishing Lego-style videos, memes, and short-form content in English. The letter even explains the slogan "Death to America," saying that it is against American policy, not the American people. The letter states: “‘Death to America’ is a prayer for the eradication of the diabolical ruling elite whose seat of power is the White House,”

Another part of the letter is about the damage to U.S. forces, including: Destroying more than 200 drones, 12 tanker aircraft, 30 fighter jets, and one AWACS aircraft. The destruction of dozens of helicopters, radars, air defense systems, and military facilities and equipment at U.S. bases, and reduction in the operational capacity of 18 U.S. bases.

This letter also points to the weakening of the United States' superpower status on the global stage as the biggest consequence of the war.

Reactions On September 30, 2026, one day after the IRGC’s letter was released, the U.S. State Department described it as a “smokescreen.” A State Department spokesman also described it as an “effort to lie to the American people” that did not “change the hard facts” about the Iranian government.

National Council of Resistance of Iran U.S. Representative Office also criticized the IRGC's letter. Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of this office, said the IRGC wants to turn the war into a political shield for the regime; abroad, it portrays itself as a defender of Iran against foreign aggression, while at home, it uses the same narrative to justify the suppression of the opposition.

Analysis Some media outlets say the timing of the letter's publication is very important; the letter was released before the midterm elections, while American support for the war was declining, and Trump had rejected recent Iranian proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the West Asia News Agency (WANA), the IRGC's letter is part of a war that was not fought only on the battlefield. In this letter, the IRGC is trying to move the war from the level of the U.S. government's decision to the level of American society, and this question is raised among Americans: Who will pay for this war? And why should their country's forces enter a war thousands of kilometers away from American soil, and why should the cost of such a conflict be paid for out of public funds? In fact, the purpose of the letter is not to replace military action, but to explain the consequences of the war to American society.

On October 1, 2026, Mark Champion, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, examined the letter in an analysis. He wrote that while the letter raises real issues, it also contains exaggerated claims and tries to influence American voters.

See also Iran–United States relations 2026 Iran war Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

External links An Open Letter to the Honorable People of the United States of America

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