Iran Army Chief Announces $30,000 Bounty for US Soldiers

Iranian Army Chief Amir Hatami has announced a reward of $30,000 for anyone who kills or captures a US military personnel and hands them over to Iran, according to state-run IRNA. The reward would reportedly rise to $60,000 when the action is carried out by an Iranian woman.

Hatami said the announcement followed what he described as a “large number of requests” from people seeking to take part.

Under the offer, anyone who kills or captures and hands over an “invading American military personnel” would receive $30,000, or 5 billion tomans, from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army. The toman is an informal monetary unit equivalent to 10,000 Iranian rials.

Double Reward Announced for Iranian Women

Hatami said Iranian women who carry out such an action would receive twice the standard payment.

He did not provide details about where or when a US military personnel could potentially be targeted or captured.

Hatami Repeats Demand for US Forces to Leave Region

The Iranian Army chief also repeated Tehran’s demand for the withdrawal of US forces from the region.

Hatami said US forces “no longer have permission to enter the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman or the Strait of Hormuz.”

The announcement comes despite there being no known deployment of US ground troops inside Iran during the conflict. A major US rescue operation in April involved approximately 200 US personnel and more than 170 aircraft to recover the weapons systems officer of a downed F-15.

Conflict Between Iran and US

The hostilities began on February 28, after US and Israeli strikes targeted Iran. Fighting later stopped under an April ceasefire.

An effort to establish a framework for peace negotiations was attempted in June, but the initiative eventually collapsed.

Since then, Iran and the United States have exchanged sporadic fire, mainly around southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Indirect communication through mediators has continued, although no major diplomatic breakthrough has been reported.

US Military Deaths Since Conflict Began

Seventeen US military personnel have died since the conflict began, with the latest casualties reported in July.

All of the reported US military deaths occurred outside Iranian territory, including in Jordan and Iraq.