The US State Department on Friday announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of key Iranian leaders, including the country’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
The offer, issued through the department’s long-running Rewards for Justice program, targets individuals described as commanding elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The U.S. has long accused the IRGC — designated a foreign terrorist organization since 2019 — of orchestrating and executing attacks worldwide, including support for proxy groups and terrorism.
The announcement comes amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, following joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran that began Feb. 28. Those operations resulted in the death of Iran’s longtime Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and significant casualties, with Iranian sources reporting around 1,300 deaths so far from the ongoing campaign.
Escalating Conflict and Leadership Transition
The Feb. 28 strikes marked a dramatic escalation, with U.S. and Israeli forces targeting Iranian military and leadership sites in what officials described as efforts to degrade Tehran’s capabilities. The death of Ali Khamenei, who had ruled for decades, prompted Iran’s Assembly of Experts to swiftly appoint his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as successor in early March.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has remained largely out of public view since his appointment. Reports indicate he was wounded in the initial strikes, with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating Friday that the new supreme leader is “wounded and likely disfigured.” Hegseth questioned Khamenei’s leadership capacity, noting that a recent statement attributed to him was issued in writing without video or audio, calling it “weak.”
Iran’s first message from the new leader, read on state television Thursday, vowed continued resistance, including threats to block the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on U.S. bases in the region. No public appearance or direct voice recording from Mojtaba Khamenei has surfaced, fueling speculation about his condition.
Targeted Individuals and Broader Implications
The Rewards for Justice notice lists 10 officials tied to the IRGC and its branches. Among them are Mojtaba Khamenei; Ali Asghar Hejazi, deputy chief of staff in the supreme leader’s office; and Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser. Other names include figures like Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, according to reports from the State Department website.
The program offers up to $10 million per tip leading to actionable intelligence on these individuals’ locations or identification. Informants may also qualify for relocation to the United States for safety. Submissions can be made anonymously via secure channels, including a Tor-based tipline or Signal.
This move underscores Washington’s strategy to disrupt Iranian command structures amid the war. The IRGC, which controls significant portions of Iran’s military and economy, has been central to Tehran’s regional influence through proxies like Hezbollah and other groups.
Regional Fallout and Retaliation
Tehran responded to the initial strikes with waves of drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, as well as sites in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf nations hosting U.S. military assets. These retaliatory actions caused casualties, damaged civilian infrastructure, and disrupted global markets and aviation routes.
The conflict has raised fears of broader instability, with oil prices fluctuating and shipping through key waterways threatened. U.S. officials have indicated operations will continue until threats are neutralized.
For more on the Rewards for Justice program, visit the official State Department page. Background on the IRGC designation is available via the U.S. State Department archives.
The announcement highlights the U.S. commitment to countering what it calls Iranian terrorism, even as the Middle East grapples with the consequences of direct confrontation.
