TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has appealed to US voters to reject President Donald Trump’s policies and support what it described as an opportunity for peaceful coexistence between Iran and the United States.
The appeal was made in a 25-page open letter addressed to the American people and issued on Tuesday, urging voters to oppose US support for Israel and involvement in foreign wars.
The letter argued that Iran and the United States could coexist if Washington changed its policies towards Tehran.
The IRGC accused Trump of misrepresenting the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme and its ability to exert pressure over oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi told reporters that he did not expect the letter to immediately influence the US administration’s policies, but said American voters could take its message into account.
“The American people are not knowledgeable about many developments. We believe if they knew more, they would think differently and take other decisions,” he said.
IRGC questions Trump’s policies
The IRGC said Trump had cited preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon among the reasons for the US military campaign against the country.
Trump, whose Republican Party faces pressure from Democrats ahead of the US midterm elections, last week told the United Nations General Assembly that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if he chose.
Mohebbi rejected US allegations concerning Iran’s nuclear intentions.
“The enemy (US) knows that Iran is not after nuclear weapons,” he said.
He also criticised Trump personally, questioning his credibility and motives and accusing him of prioritising wealth accumulation.
The IRGC’s appeal comes as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high following the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran and continuing disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security.
Iran disputes claims over Strait of Hormuz
Mohebbi also challenged US assertions that Iran had lost much of its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil shipping route.
He argued that the passage of individual vessels under difficult and costly conditions did not mean that the strategic waterway had been fully reopened.
“The fact that the Americans might manage, at great expense, considerable trouble and high risk to sneak a small vessel through the Strait of Hormuz under cover of darkness to export, say, 100 or 200 barrels of oil does not mean the Strait is open,” he said.
According to Kpler data cited in the report, oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz recovered in September and were expected to reach almost 10 million barrels per day, around half of the pre-war level.
The IRGC’s letter and statements reflect Tehran’s effort to present its position directly to the American public as the United States approaches its midterm elections, while calling for a change in Washington’s approach towards Iran.
