Irony: The Iranian regime asks Americans to save it at the ballot box

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published a 26-page open letter to American voters, calling on them to oust Trump's allies in Congress in the November midterm elections, stop support for Israel, and halt U.S. military involvement in the Middle East. The letter, published in English and Persian, uses democratic rhetoric while the regime itself suppresses democratic rights in Iran. The appeal comes amid the U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq, severe economic strain in Iran, and ongoing direct confrontation with Washington and Jerusalem.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published yesterday (Tuesday) a 26-page open letter directly addressed to U.S. citizens, using the democratic tools of the West. About five weeks before the midterm congressional elections on November 3, Tehran calls on American voters to use their democratic power at the ballot box to topple President Donald Trump's allies, stop support for Israel, and halt U.S. military involvement in the Middle East. The document was published simultaneously in English and Persian, using distinctly democratic rhetoric. The Iranian appeal targets weak points in the Washington political arena: a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed only 17% of Americans are satisfied with Trump's handling of the cost of living, and only 34% support military operations against Iran. Meanwhile, Tehran exploits the timing of the completion of the withdrawal of American forces from their last bases in Iraq. Despite the propaganda display, the Iranian economy is suffering severe blows, the Iranian rial has fallen to an unprecedented low against the dollar, and its forces have weakened. Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a ceasefire, stating: "Their situation is very bad - and they will give in." Qatar is acting as a mediator in an attempt to formulate an agreement, with the issue of dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities standing as an obstacle.