In a dramatic escalation of its campaign against Tehran, the United States has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture or prosecution of Iran’s new supreme leader and other senior officials. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program unveiled the bounty on Friday, targeting Mojtaba Khamenei—who succeeded his father after the latter’s assassination—alongside nine other high-ranking Iranian figures.
The list includes Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Minister of Intelligence and Security Esmail Khatib, whom Washington accuses of commanding elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the State Department, these individuals “plan, organize and execute terrorism around the world.” The move signals a hardening U.S. stance amid ongoing regional tensions following the Iran-Israel proxy conflict that erupted into open warfare earlier this year.
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed leadership after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a bombing on February 28—an event that marked the beginning of direct U.S.-Israeli military engagement with Iran. The transition has been shrouded in uncertainty, with analysts questioning the new supreme leader’s ability to consolidate power. The U.S. reward offer explicitly seeks intelligence on his activities and whereabouts, reflecting a strategy to destabilize Iran’s command structure.
The Rewards for Justice program, which has previously targeted terrorists and narcotics traffickers, is now focusing on state actors. Tipsters are encouraged to submit information via encrypted platforms like Tor or Signal, with the State Department promising potential relocation and financial compensation. “Your information could make you eligible for relocation and a reward,” the announcement stated, underscoring the sensitivity of the operation.
This development comes as thousands of Americans have been evacuated from the Middle East on charter flights, according to a separate State Department advisory. The region remains volatile, with ongoing military operations and diplomatic stalemates. For broader context on U.S.-Iran relations, readers can refer to BBC Middle East coverage and Reuters’ Middle East section.
In conclusion, the $10 million bounty represents a bold, unconventional tactic in Washington’s pressure campaign against Iran. By targeting the highest echelons of Iranian leadership, the U.S. aims to disrupt Tehran’s operational capabilities and gather critical intelligence. However, the offer also risks further inflaming tensions in a region already on edge, with implications for global security and diplomatic efforts.
Source: ARY News