The United States has announced a reward of up to $20 million for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, offering potential informants financial incentives as well as relocation to a safe location if necessary.
The announcement was made on Friday by the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM). The initiative comes amid continuing tensions over Tehran’s nuclear activities and Washington’s efforts to obtain further intelligence about the programme.
In a post on social media platform X, CENTCOM said the reward would be offered under the US State Department’s ‘Rewards for Justice’ programme. The American authorities are seeking information about facilities, equipment, scientists, researchers and other individuals connected with Iran’s nuclear programme.
The maximum reward of $20 million is equivalent to approximately Tk 2.5 billion in Bangladeshi currency. However, the US State Department has not specified exactly what type of information would qualify for the full amount or outlined the criteria for determining individual rewards.
Established in 1984, the Rewards for Justice programme was designed to gather information considered important to US national security and national interests. It offers financial incentives to individuals who provide valuable intelligence. Depending on the circumstances, the programme can also arrange for informants to be relocated to secure locations to protect them from potential threats.
The latest announcement comes against the backdrop of longstanding international concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Washington has repeatedly questioned the nature and extent of Tehran’s nuclear activities, particularly its uranium enrichment capabilities.
According to the US State Department, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has faced difficulties monitoring Iran’s nuclear programme because the country has not fulfilled certain nuclear safeguards obligations. The department has specifically raised concerns about the agency’s inability to obtain consistent information regarding the production and stockpiling of critical equipment, including centrifuges used in uranium enrichment.
Centrifuges play a central role in the uranium enrichment process. The level to which uranium is enriched determines its potential uses, ranging from civilian nuclear energy applications to material that could be used in nuclear weapons. This has made the monitoring of Iran’s enrichment activities a major concern for international nuclear watchdogs.
Iran, however, has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes. Tehran has rejected allegations that it is pursuing nuclear weapons, while insisting on its right to develop nuclear technology for civilian and scientific applications.
Against this background, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that American military strikes have effectively destroyed Iran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday night, Trump argued that Israel might not have survived had the United States refrained from attacking Iran. He claimed that if Tehran had acquired nuclear weapons, it would have used them, potentially devastating the wider Middle East.
Trump also said that Iran’s economy and military capabilities had suffered severe damage during eight months of war. According to the US president, Tehran was now interested in ending the conflict through an agreement.
“We are talking to them now. They want to make a deal,” Trump said, suggesting that diplomatic negotiations were under way.
Meanwhile, countries acting as intermediaries have continued their diplomatic efforts to prevent a fresh outbreak of hostilities. Their involvement is aimed at keeping communication channels open and finding a negotiated solution to the crisis.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said on Tuesday that his government was continuing to pursue a diplomatic resolution. His remarks indicate that Tehran remains interested in negotiations, despite the continuing tensions between the two countries.
However, the possibility of renewed military action has not been entirely ruled out. Trump had previously indicated that the United States still had a few remaining targets in Iran that could require military action.
Among the locations he mentioned was Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran, where Washington claims a nuclear facility is situated. Tehran has rejected the American allegation.
The latest reward announcement highlights Washington’s continuing interest in obtaining detailed intelligence about Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, even as diplomatic efforts are being pursued to prevent another round of conflict.
The situation remains particularly sensitive because it involves not only the security concerns of the United States and Israel but also the wider stability of the Middle East. Whether ongoing negotiations can produce a lasting agreement will depend largely on the willingness of both Washington and Tehran to address their differences through diplomacy.
For now, the combination of intelligence-gathering efforts, competing claims over military damage and continuing diplomatic engagement suggests that the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme remains far from settled.
