US offers $25 million reward for info on ‘Iran’s nuclear programme’: CENTCOM

• The US is offering up to US$20 million and possible relocation for tips on Iran’s nuclear programme, including its sites, equipment and scientific staff, CENTCOM said.
• The State Department said Iran’s IAEA safeguards breaches have caused a loss of knowledge about centrifuges and key nuclear parts, but it gave no details on what tips qualify.
• Trump said Iran’s programme was “obliterated” and claimed Tehran wants a deal, while mediators push to stop more fighting and Iran seeks dialogue.

WASHINGTON – Washington is offering a US$20 million (S$25.65 million) reward “and possible relocation” for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, the US military said on Nov 6, as President Donald Trump reiterated Tehran wants to make a deal to end the war.

A State Department programme, Rewards for Justice, “is offering a reward of up to US$20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community”, US Central Command said on X.

The programme was established in 1984 under the State Department’s national security rewards programme to offer money for information that protects American lives and interests.

In its statement about the reward, the State Department said Iran’s “lack of compliance with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) on safeguards obligations has led to the agency’s loss of ‘continuity of knowledge’ regarding Iran’s production and inventory of key components like centrifuges”.

It gave no specific parameters on what information would yield a US$20 million reward.

Trump has repeatedly said US forces have effectively obliterated Iran’s nuclear programme.

“If we didn’t hit Iran, you wouldn’t have Israel today,” Trump said on the night of Nov 6 in West Palm Beach, Florida. “If they had nuclear, they would have used nuclear. They would have obliterated the Middle East.”

But the President also said Iran – which he stressed has had its economy and military severely damaged over eight months of war – is eager to end the conflict. “We’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly,” he said.

Diplomatic efforts by mediators have been in full swing in an attempt to prevent any resumption of fighting.

And on Nov 3, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government was still trying to resolve the crisis through dialogue.

Earlier this week, Trump said he still had to “take care” of one or two targets, including so-called Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran, a suspected nuclear site which Tehran denies is such a facility. AFP