Iran Announces $30,000 Reward for Capturing US Troops

Iran’s Army Chief Major General Amir Hatami

Iran’s Army Chief Major General Amir Hatami has announced a financial reward for anyone who captures or kills US military personnel, claiming that the era of American military presence in the Persian Gulf region is coming to an end.

Speaking at an event marking National Journalists’ Day in Tehran on Sunday (16 August), Hatami said the reward fund had been created through public donations.

Under the announcement, individuals who capture a US soldier alive or hand over a killed soldier to authorities would receive approximately $30,000. He also claimed that women carrying out such actions would receive double the amount, while weapons used in the operation would be purchased at twice their value and preserved in a museum.

Hatami said major changes had been made within Iran’s military and security institutions under the direction of the country’s leadership, including appointments to several senior positions.

He also claimed that Iranian forces had successfully targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, temporarily disrupting aircraft operations, although no independent verification of the claim was immediately available.

The Iranian army chief further stated that US military movements through the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz would no longer be accepted, adding that the withdrawal of American forces from the Middle East was the only solution to regional tensions.