Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically on Friday after a strongly worded statement from the White House sent shockwaves through diplomatic and military circles.
Global markets reacted cautiously, regional allies convened urgent consultations, and analysts warned that the coming days could prove decisive for stability across the Gulf.
Donald Trump issued a direct warning to members of Iran’s powerful security apparatus.
Addressing personnel within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the broader Iranian armed forces, and national police units, Trump called on them to abandon their posts and disengage from what he described as a failing regime strategy.
He told them they would be granted “full immunity” if they laid down their weapons, but warned that those who refused would face what he termed certain death should hostilities intensify.
The remarks mark one of the most explicit appeals by a sitting U.S. president to rank and file members of a foreign military structure.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following a series of confrontations in the Gulf region.
Although the White House did not announce immediate military action, senior administration officials suggested that all options remain on the table.
Iranian authorities have yet to issue a formal response, but state-affiliated media outlets condemned the remarks as interference in sovereign affairs.
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Political observers in Tehran described the message as psychological warfare aimed at creating divisions within the country’s security establishment.
Security experts note that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps holds significant influence in Iran’s political and economic spheres, making any call for defection both symbolically and strategically significant.
The force, established after the 1979 revolution, operates parallel to the regular military and answers directly to the Supreme Leader.
International reactions have been swift. European diplomats privately expressed concern that such rhetoric could further inflame tensions and reduce the space for diplomatic engagement.
Meanwhile, regional allies of the United States signaled support for Washington’s firm stance against perceived destabilizing activities
Defense analysts caution that public ultimatums rarely produce immediate defections, but can heighten mistrust and harden positions on both sides.
“When you speak directly to another country’s armed forces, you are crossing into a very sensitive arena, said one Middle East security scholar. It raises the stakes considerably.
Within Washington, lawmakers appeared divided. Some praised the President’s approach as bold and necessary to deter aggression, while critics argued that it risks pushing the region closer to open conflict.
As the situation develops, the world is watching closely to see whether the rhetoric will translate into action or whether backchannel diplomacy can prevent a dangerous escalation.
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