US Announces Rewards for Iranian Leaders

The United States has announced a reward of up to 10 million dollars for information leading to the identification or location of several senior Iranian officials, including the newly installed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The announcement was published on the website of the United States Department of State as part of a broader effort to gather intelligence on individuals associated with Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to the official notice, the reward applies to information concerning ten officials believed to be linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a military organisation formed in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The force operates separately from Iran’s regular armed forces and is widely regarded as one of the most influential institutions within the country’s political and security structure. It maintains close allegiance to the Supreme Leader and plays a central role in protecting Iran’s religious and political system.

The announcement follows a period of heightened tension in the region after a series of joint military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel beginning on 28 February. Those strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian officials, including prominent members of the country’s security establishment. In the aftermath of the attacks, Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly assumed the role of Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.

Since taking office, Mojtaba Khamenei has remained largely absent from public view. However, he issued his first official statement on Thursday. Some reports suggest that he may have been injured during the late February attacks, although this has not been independently confirmed.

In addition to the Supreme Leader, the United States has requested information about several other prominent Iranian figures. These include security chief Ali Larijani, Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, and two senior officials working within the office of the Supreme Leader.

Despite claims by the United States Secretary of Defence that many Iranian leaders were operating from undisclosed locations, a video verified by Reuters on Friday appeared to show Ali Larijani attending a public gathering in Tehran alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The reward announcement also refers to four additional individuals, including a commander within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the secretary of Iran’s Defence Council. Their names and photographs, however, were not disclosed on the official listing.

Individuals Named in the Reward Announcement

The United States government stated that the individuals identified are believed to issue strategic direction to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Washington accuses of planning and supporting acts of terrorism in various parts of the world.

Contacting Iranian authorities for immediate comment proved difficult, as Friday marks the weekly holiday in Iran. The Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the announcement.

Washington has formally designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organisation, accusing it of involvement in attacks that have targeted American citizens and interests. The United States has also alleged that Iran attempted to orchestrate plots against former President Donald Trump and other American officials in retaliation for the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

Iran has consistently denied allegations that it sponsors terrorism. Iranian officials frequently reject such claims as politically motivated accusations intended to justify economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure from Washington. According to Tehran, the accusations form part of a broader strategy designed to isolate Iran on the international stage.