By Muhammad Mamman
United States President Donald Trump has delivered a blunt ultimatum to Iran’s powerful security apparatus, warning members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the armed forces and police to “lay down your arms” or face deadly consequences.
In a message released on social media on Friday, Trump said Iranian security personnel would be granted “total immunity” if they disarmed, but cautioned that failure to comply would result in what he described as “certain death”.
The statement marks a dramatic escalation in rhetoric between Washington and Tehran, as tensions continue to simmer over regional security, military posturing and longstanding hostilities between the two countries.
While the White House did not immediately provide further clarification on the operational or legal basis of the threat, analysts say such language is highly unusual in diplomatic exchanges and signals a hardening stance towards Iran’s military institutions.
The IRGC, a powerful branch of Iran’s armed forces tasked with safeguarding the country’s Islamic system, has long been at the centre of US sanctions and pressure campaigns. Washington previously designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organisation, intensifying friction between the two governments.
Iranian authorities have yet to formally respond to the latest remarks. However, officials in Tehran have consistently rejected what they describe as US interference and coercive tactics, vowing to defend the country’s sovereignty and security.
Security experts warn that inflammatory language on both sides risks miscalculation, particularly in a region already strained by proxy conflicts and heightened military activity.
There has been no immediate indication of troop movements or direct confrontation following the statement. Nonetheless, observers say the message underscores the fragile state of US-Iran relations and the potential for rapid escalation if diplomacy fails to gain traction.
