The latest reward marked another US effort to obtain intelligence on Tehran’s nuclear activities after months of military confrontation.
A person counts bundles of US dollar banknotes at a currency exchange counter.
US dollar banknotes being counted at a currency exchange counter.
The United States has announced a reward of up to USD 20 million for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment and associated personnel, in a fresh intelligence-gathering effort targeting Tehran.
The offer, made under the State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme, also includes possible relocation for individuals providing credible information. It covers people associated with the programme, including members of the scientific community, as well as the movement of relevant equipment and personnel.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) highlighted the offer in a post on X on Saturday, November 7, directing potential informants to the Rewards for Justice website.
The announcement comes after months of US military action against Iran, with President Donald Trump repeatedly claiming that American strikes had effectively destroyed the country’s nuclear programme. However, Washington is now seeking information about the facilities, equipment and personnel involved in the same programme.
The move could be viewed as another attempt by the Trump administration to exert pressure on Tehran and obtain intelligence after its military campaign failed to secure a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Washington has previously announced financial incentives targeting Iran-linked networks.
In September 2019, the State Department offered up to USD 15 million for information that could disrupt the financial operations of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force.
The campaign focused on alleged illicit oil sales, front companies and financial networks used to generate revenue for the organisation and evade US sanctions.
In September 2024, the US announced a separate reward of up to USD 20 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of IRGC member Shahram Poursafi, who was accused of attempting to recruit individuals in the US to assassinate former national security adviser John Bolton.
The latest reward announcement came as Trump reiterated that Tehran was keen to negotiate an agreement to end the conflict, while claiming that eight months of fighting had severely weakened its economy and military.
“We’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly,” Trump told reporters on Friday night, November 6, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Defending the US military campaign, he said American strikes had prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and threatening Israel and the wider Middle East.
“If we didn’t hit Iran, you wouldn’t have Israel today. If they had nuclear, they would have used nuclear. They would have obliterated the Middle East,” he said.
Earlier this week, Trump said Washington still had one or two targets to address, including Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear site in central Iran. Tehran has denied that the location is a nuclear facility.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts led by regional mediators are continuing to prevent a resumption of hostilities. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said earlier this week that his government remained committed to resolving the crisis through dialogue.
The conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, triggering a wider regional confrontation. The fighting has since involved attacks across the Middle East and repeated diplomatic efforts to secure an end to hostilities.
