The United States has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about senior Iranian military and intelligence officials, including Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The offer was published on the website of the United States Department of State, as part of Washington’s efforts to gather intelligence on key figures associated with Iran’s powerful security institutions.
Officials Linked to the Revolutionary Guard Targeted
According to the State Department, the reward program targets 10 officials connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC is an elite military force established after the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and is tasked with safeguarding Iran’s political and religious leadership.
The United States has long accused the IRGC of planning and carrying out attacks beyond Iran’s borders. Washington designated the organization as a foreign terrorist entity, claiming it has been responsible for operations that resulted in the deaths of American citizens.
Leadership Changes After Strikes on Iran
Mojtaba Khamenei recently assumed the position of Iran’s supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed along with several senior Iranian officials in joint US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
Reports suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei may have been injured during the strikes and has not appeared publicly since the attacks. However, he released his first public statement on Thursday following the escalation.
Other Iranian Officials Named
In addition to the supreme leader, the United States is also seeking information on several other senior Iranian officials. These include Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, along with two officials working in the office of the supreme leader.
Pakistan Will Support Saudi Arabia “Whenever Needed” Amid Middle East Tensions
Despite claims from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran’s leadership had gone underground, videos verified by Reuters showed Ali Larijani attending a rally in Tehran alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Iran Rejects US Allegations
The US has also accused Iran of plotting assassination attempts against Donald Trump and other American officials in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
Iran, however, strongly denies these accusations and rejects claims that it sponsors terrorism. Iranian officials frequently describe such allegations as politically motivated and argue that Washington uses them to justify sanctions and continued pressure on Tehran.
