Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a 26-page letter on Tuesday urging U.S. citizens to vote against the congressional allies of President Donald Trump in the upcoming November 3 elections. The appeal coincided with the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. forces from their remaining bases in Iraq on Wednesday, a departure celebrated by Tehran.
The withdrawal from Iraq concludes a 23-year military presence that began with the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. While former President Joe Biden agreed to the withdrawal terms in 2024, President Trump allowed the final departure to proceed this week. The move occurs during a seven-month-old war between the U.S. and Iran that began in February, a conflict Trump launched alongside Israel.
In the letter published Tuesday, the Revolutionary Guard called on Americans to remove current leaders and reject U.S. military intervention abroad and support for Israel. Meanwhile, Qatari mediators held separate talks with U.S. and Iranian officials on Monday in an attempt to negotiate a peace deal. President Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he expects a swift end to the conflict, stating he believed Iran would eventually "give up" as its economy and conventional forces continue to face degradation.
The war has contributed to higher fuel prices following the restriction of oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict began in February, 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passed through this waterway. For U.S. households, this disruption has manifested in energy costs, with a September 21 Reuters/Ipsos poll showing only 17% of Americans approve of the administration's handling of the cost of living.
The military withdrawal impacts U.S. service members as the remaining bases in Iraq are vacated, ending a mission that has spanned more than two decades. In the broader Middle East, the conflict has affected security in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Lebanon, where various allied militias have been drawn into the hostilities. The Iranian government has stated its ultimate goal is the removal of American forces from the Middle East, framing the Iraq exit as a triumph.
What happens next depends on whether the two nations can reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pause fighting. Iran has proposed a peace plan involving a seven-day countdown to reopening the strait, though President Trump reportedly rejected the plan on Saturday. Congressional elections on November 3 will determine if the administration retains the legislative support necessary to continue its current military and economic pressure campaign against Tehran. No official agreement to end the war has been reached as of Wednesday.