US offers $20m for information on Iran nuclear programme

Washington is offering a $20 million (€17.9m) reward and the possibility of relocation for information about Iran's nuclear programme.

A State Department programme, Rewards for Justice, "is offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran's nuclear program, 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 rewards 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 $20 million reward.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that US forces have effectively obliterated Iran's nuclear programme.

"If we didn't hit Iran, you wouldn't have Israel today," said Mr Trump yesterday evening in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"If they had nuclear, they would have used nuclear. They would have obliterated the Middle East."

But the US president also said Iran was eager to end the conflict, adding that its economy and military had been severely damaged over eight months of war.

"We're dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly," he said.

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

On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government was still trying to resolve the crisis through dialogue.

Earlier this week Mr 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 a nuclear facility.