Iran appeals to US voters as US troops leave Iraq

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps urged Americans on Tuesday to vote out President Donald Trump's allies in Congress, as US troops leave Iraq on Wednesday.

Tehran celebrated the departure from the last US bases in neighboring Iraq. The 26-page letter was published ahead of the November 3 congressional elections, amid a seven-month war between Iran and the United States.

Why did Iran urge Americans to vote out Trump's allies?

The Guards' letter argues that current US leaders are responsible for America's current state. It asks voters to reject US support for Israel and military intervention abroad. Analysts say the issues it identifies are already working against Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the November 3 elections.

The letter was published by Iranian media on Tuesday and urges Americans to use their political power to remove current leaders from office. It is unlikely to sway US voters, many of whom may never see the text. Even so, opposition Democrats could retake control of one or both legislative chambers, potentially impeding Trump's political agenda.

"Remove from power the evil, deceitful, and violent politicians who are responsible for America's current state," the letter said. "Make sure your politicians understand that the world has changed." Trump campaigned in 2024 pledging to avoid new wars, end existing conflicts and bring down inflation.

How is the war with Iran affecting Trump's standing?

The war with Iran, which Trump launched alongside Israel, has contributed to higher global fuel prices and spread in the Middle East. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published September 21 found just 17% of respondents approved Trump's handling of the cost of living. Americans say it is the top issue that will determine how they vote in November.

Only 34% of respondents approved of the strikes on Iran. The poll points to the same pressure points that the Guards' letter targets.

Why are US troops leaving Iraq now?

Trump allowed the final withdrawal from Iraq on Wednesday, under a deal agreed in 2024 by former President Joe Biden. Trump broke with Republican orthodoxy in 2016 when he called the US invasion of Iraq a major mistake. The withdrawal comes 23 years after US-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein, an event that triggered upheaval and culminated in the rise of Islamic State.

Iran casts the exit as a triumph for its "axis of resistance" of allied armed groups across the region. Tehran says its ultimate aim is to force American forces to leave the entire Middle East. The war has drawn in Iranian allies including the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and militias in Iraq, which Riyadh blamed for the September 10 attack that knocked the East-West Pipeline in Saudi Arabia offline.

What is Qatar doing to end the Iran-US war?

Qatar continued to promote its shuttle diplomacy aimed at ending the seven-month-old war. It has again emerged as would-be peacemaker after previously playing a supporting role in producing a June memorandum of understanding that led to a brief ceasefire. US and Iranian officials spoke separately with Qatari mediators on Monday, but it was unclear if exchanges took place on Tuesday.

"We are exchanging messages between the parties, and we're working towards establishing a common ground in order to get into a deal that would save all of us from the repercussions of the conflict," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told reporters. The US and Iran have not found an off-ramp from the war despite rounds of talks and several ceasefires.

Negotiations appeared to intensify during last week's UN General Assembly meeting in New York. They have so far not yielded any agreement to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed before the war started in February.

What has Trump said about Iran's peace proposal and nuclear program?

Trump once again predicted a swift surrender for Iran and repeated his position that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon. "I don't know if they are going to give up yet but they'll give up," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "They are doing very poorly," he added.

At the United Nations General Assembly last week, Iran floated a peace proposal that would trigger a seven-day countdown to reopening the strait and a pause in fighting. Trump on Saturday rejected the plan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that Washington had not officially relayed a US rejection through mediators.

The conflict has degraded Iran's conventional forces and damaged its already ailing economy. Tehran has fought back with missile and drone strikes on US allies in the Gulf and by restricting oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed up world energy prices.

Trump has cited weakening Iran's nuclear capabilities as one of his war objectives, along with ending its ability to attack its neighbors and creating conditions for Iranians to topple their leadership. Iran, which does not have nuclear weapons, denies seeking them. The US is nuclear-armed. Tehran says it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes as a party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.