The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a terrorist organization in Iran, has published an open letter to the American people. The 26-page letter attempts to clarify the meaning of the phrase "Death to America," which is often chanted in Iran.
What happened
The IRGC claims that "Death to America" is not meant literally, but rather as a call for the eradication of the US ruling elite. The letter states that the phrase is a "prayer for the eradication of the diabolical ruling elite whose seat of power is the White House" and a "cry born of the pain of oppression." The IRGC also invites Americans to visit Iran, including the Strait of Hormuz, to "personally ascertain for yourselves the verity of our assertions."
The letter includes a number of grievances against the US, including allegations that the government promotes "extramarital sexual relationships" on the internet and that it created the Sunni jihadist terrorist organization Islamic State. The IRGC also claims that American intelligence agencies orchestrated the September 11 attacks, citing "very smart experts" as evidence.
The letter concludes by calling the US a "Third World country" for selling oil and praising leftist "No Kings" rallies around America. The IRGC urges Americans to "rise up and put an end to this miserable situation" and to stand "by our side as we are led by Mahdi and Christ toward final victory."
Despite the IRGC's claims, the Iranian regime has a history of taking American citizens hostage, torturing them, and using them for ransom. The letter's invitation to Americans to visit Iran has been met with skepticism, given the risks of travel to the country.
