In a formal statement released on Thursday (October 1, 2026), the elite military force stated that two decades of US military presence failed to deliver security to West Asia, attributing prolonged instability, terrorism, and severe economic and humanitarian disruption to American involvement. The IRGC reiterated its position that regional security management must rest entirely with local nations, adding that the withdrawal reflects widespread public opposition to the long-standing occupation. The statement follows the official conclusion of US troop deployments in Iraq on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), ending a 23-year military footprint that began with the 2003 invasion. Official estimates place total US expenditures associated with operations in Iraq at approximately $3 trillion, alongside over 3,500 military fatalities and significant contractor casualties.