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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has published a long letter addressed directly to the American people. The letter, running to several dozen pages, attempts to draw the attention of the American public to the United States’ military activities, the conflict with Iran and US policy in the Middle East.
IRGC brigadier general and spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi told a press conference that the letter is essentially an initiative to communicate directly with the American people. It calls on Americans to be more attentive to the situation around them, the actions of their government and the role of the country’s military.
Mohebbi claimed that many US citizens are not aware of the ‘crimes’ that Iran believes the US military is committing. He said the IRGC believes these activities are damaging the image of the United States in the international arena and also have a bearing on the country’s dispute with Iran.
Call for direct dialogue with the American people
The IRGC has called for the creation of a platform for direct discussion with the American people. Mohebbi said Americans do not know about this region; a platform is needed to talk to them. He said Iran is ready to communicate with US citizens and they too can get in touch if they wish.
He said direct communication between the people of Iran and the United States could create a clearer understanding of the situation in the Middle East and the dispute between the two countries.
Allegation of building nuclear weapons denied
In his remarks addressed to the American people, the IRGC spokesperson also spoke about Iran’s nuclear programme. Mohebbi said Iran has never tried to build nuclear weapons and there is no pledge to go down that path in the future either. He also mentioned that Iran is committed in this regard.
However, there has long been a sharp dispute between the United States and Iran over Iran’s nuclear programme. Washington and its allies have been expressing concern over Iran’s nuclear capability; Tehran, on the other hand, has always maintained that its programme is run for peaceful purposes.
Questions over terrorist listing
Mohebbi called on US citizens to ask their own government the reason for listing the IRGC as a ‘terrorist organisation’. He claimed the organisation has been designated as terrorist precisely because it prevented ‘plunder’ in Iran and the region.
He also raised various allegations against the US military. According to him, the US military has been involved in acts such as bombing schools, hospitals, universities, mosques and churches, yet many US citizens do not know about these matters.
In the case of these allegations, the IRGC’s statements and claims need to be considered separately. What position the US government takes on these allegations was not mentioned in the remarks.
‘No need for 800 bases around the world’
The IRGC spokesperson also raised questions about the US military presence. He said there is no need for the United States to have around 800 military bases across the world. He claimed the annual budget of Iran’s armed forces is only 1 per cent of the budget of the US armed forces.
Referring to the domestic economic situation in the United States, he claimed the country’s rulers do not give enough consideration to their own people and that around 39 million people are living below the poverty line.
Mohebbi questioned whether the time has come to change US foreign policy. He argued that if only 10 per cent of the money spent on military attacks were spent on assisting the world’s poor countries, the United States would become more popular internationally.
Tehran’s message aimed at the people
This lengthy statement by the IRGC is being seen as an attempt to present Iran’s position directly to the people of that country as well as to the US government. Along with the military conflict, the statement set out Tehran’s position on US foreign policy, military bases, defence spending and Iran’s nuclear programme. At the same time, the American people were urged to question their government’s military activities.
As the letter runs to several dozen pages, a detailed review of all its contents has not yet been completed, so it will take more time to get a full picture of the other statements and claims it contains. However, it is clear from the spokesperson’s remarks that Iran wants to send a message of establishing direct contact not only with the US government but also with the country’s ordinary people. There are indications that one of the aims of this initiative is to bring American public opinion into the discussion on Washington’s policy amid the ongoing tension. Source: Al Jazeera
