US Offers $10 Million Reward For Information On Iran’s Supreme Leader, Officials

The United States Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10m for information on several Iranian officials, including the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

The reward was announced on Friday under the US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Programme, which said it was seeking information about individuals it described as “Iranian terrorist leaders.”

The announcement was contained in a poster released by the programme on 𝕏, formerly Twitter.

“These individuals command and direct various elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which plans, organises and executes terrorism around the world,” the poster stated.

Among those listed are Iran’s Minister of Intelligence, Esmail Khatib; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Supreme Leader, Ali Asghar Hejazi; Senior Military Adviser, Yahya Rahim Safavi; and Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni.

Others named include Ali Larijani, who currently serves as Secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council.

The poster also referenced other positions without identifying specific individuals, including the secretary of the Supreme Defence Council, the head of the supreme leader’s military office, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC and an adviser to the supreme leader.

According to the programme, individuals with information about the officials, senior IRGC commanders or their networks can submit tips through encrypted messaging platforms or via a communication channel on the Tor network.

It added that credible information could attract a reward of up to $10m and possible relocation for informants.

The development comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran following a recent leadership change in Tehran.

Khamenei was named Iran’s new supreme leader on March 8 after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed during the early stages of the ongoing conflict between Iran and a US-Israel coalition.

The 56-year-old cleric was selected by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the powerful clerical body responsible for appointing the country’s supreme leader.

Following his appointment, Iran’s powerful military organisation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, pledged allegiance to Khamenei as the country faced escalating confrontation with the United States and Israel.

In his first statement since assuming office, the new supreme leader vowed that Iran would continue retaliatory actions against its adversaries.

He warned that the conflict would continue until what he described as justice for Iranian casualties was achieved.

The statement, read on state television rather than delivered in person, also threatened continued pressure on strategic oil routes in the Gulf.

It further warned neighbouring countries hosting US military bases that they could face retaliation.

Khamenei’s absence from public view since assuming power has fuelled speculation about his health, with some US officials claiming he may have been wounded during the conflict.

However, Iranian authorities insist that the new leader remains active and in control of government affairs.