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World · Iran-US conflict and ceasefire negotiations

Iran's Revolutionary Guards publish open letter urging Americans to oust Trump's allies

Iran's IRGC released a lengthy open letter to Americans on 29 September, accusing Trump of lying about the war and urging voters to change their leaders before the 3 November midterms. Outlets differ on whether they stress the letter's content, its political context, or its claims' credibility.

9 outlets · 2L · 3C · 4R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 3). New coverage since the last version from Breitbart, Hot Air, Just the News, The Hill, The National.

Image: Al Jazeera
Image: Newsweek
Image: Just the News
Image: The Hill
Image: The Independent
Image: The National
Image: The Straits Times
Image: Breitbart

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The story, neutrally told

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released an open letter to the American people on Tuesday 29 September, saying the US government under Donald Trump "must be changed". Outlets give its length as 25 pages (Newsweek) or 26 pages (Reuters, Independent, Breitbart). It urges Americans to remove current leaders, vote out Trump's allies in Congress and reject US support for Israel and military intervention abroad, about five weeks before the 3 November midterms.

The letter declares Iran the victor, saying the US and Israel failed to achieve their declared objectives, and calls Trump an "inveterate liar" motivated by wealth; these are the IRGC's allegations. It says "Death to America" targets the White House elite, not the American people. Reuters said the letter was unlikely to sway voters but touches on issues analysts say hurt Trump, citing a poll in which 34% approved of the strikes on Iran.

IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said the Strait of Hormuz is not open, while Al Jazeera cited Kpler data putting oil exports through it at about 77% of pre-war levels. Trump has said Iran is "losing badly" and "they'll give up"; the White House did not respond to Al Jazeera. Qatar is mediating, and US forces were due to leave their remaining Iraqi bases on Wednesday, a departure Tehran celebrated; no deal to reopen the strait has been reached.

Breitbart characterised the letter as unhinged and noted it suggests the 11 September attacks were a "false-flag operation", a point other outlets did not report.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Al Jazeera leads with the letter's appeal and content, adding context on Hormuz data and diplomacy; the Independent runs Reuters-derived copy stressing Trump's political vulnerabilities.
Emphasis
The letter's distinction between Americans and their government, Trump's war record, polling and the midterms.
Leaves out or plays down
Little on the letter's more controversial claims, such as the 11 September assertion reported by Breitbart.
Charged language
“must be changed”
For example
“The letter is careful to distinguish the US government from its people” — Al Jazeera
“it highlights domestic political vulnerabilities facing Trump and the Republican Party” — The Independent

Centre3 outlets

Framing
Newsweek offers a detailed explainer of the letter's claims and what they mean for Trump's war; The Hill leads with the voting appeal ahead of the midterms.
Emphasis
The IRGC's claims of victory, its attacks on Trump and the unprecedented decision to address Americans directly.
Leaves out or plays down
Newsweek does not emphasise the oil-export data or polling that challenge Iran's claims.
Charged language
“inveterate liar”
For example
“the unprecedented decision by the IRGC to speak past government channels indicates a serious attempt to seize the narrative” — Newsweek
“called on Americans to vote against President Trump ahead of the midterm elections” — The Hill

Right4 outlets

Framing
Breitbart treats the letter as propaganda from a terrorist body; Just the News calls it a purported fact-check; the Straits Times carries Reuters with the Iraq withdrawal and diplomacy context.
Emphasis
The letter's dubious claims, Iran's human-rights record and hostage-taking, and Iran's asserted victory.
Leaves out or plays down
Breitbart and Just the News leave out polling and the Hormuz oil-export data; Breitbart omits the letter's stated aim of voting out Trump's allies.
Charged language
“IRGC Terrorists”“unhinged missive”“purports to be a fact-check”“regime”
For example
“The unhinged missive regularly condemned President Donald Trump as corrupt” — Breitbart
“The lengthy document purports to be a fact-check” — Just the News
“in a departure celebrated by Tehran” — The Straits Times