The United States has issued bounties of up to $10 million—equivalent to roughly 14.98 billion won—on senior Iranian officials linked to the nation’s nuclear activities, including Mojtaba Khamenei.
Rewards for Justice Program Announcement
The State Department’s counterterrorism initiative, Rewards for Justice, announced on March 13 (local time) via its website that it will pay up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest or disruption of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leaders and their affiliated nuclear program operatives.
This represents the highest reward ever offered for Mojtaba Khamenei, a key figure eyed as a potential next supreme leader and top nuclear scientist in Iran.
Targeted Iranian Officials
The bounty list covers 10 individuals, including:
- Mojtaba Khamenei, prominent nuclear program leader
- Asghar Hejazi, chief secretary in the supreme leader’s office
- Yahya Rahim Safavi, military advisor to the supreme leader’s office
- Ali Larijani, secretary general of the Supreme National Security Council
- Escandar Momeni, Minister of Interior
- Esmail Khatib, Minister of Intelligence and Security
Additional rewards target leaders of assassination squads, unnamed chairs of defense councils, supreme leader advisors, military office chiefs, and IRGC personnel directors.
Reasons for the Bounties
Officials emphasize that these figures direct and oversee IRGC units responsible for planning, organizing, and carrying out terrorist operations worldwide. “The IRGC holds responsibility for many attacks on U.S. citizens and facilities, including those that kill Americans,” a State Department statement notes.
The Rewards for Justice account on X (formerly Twitter) posted: “We seek information on these Iranian terror leaders. Submit tips to us for potential rewards and anonymity.”
