The United States has announced a reward of up to US$10 million for information leading to the identification or location of key Iranian leaders, including the country’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, according to a statement released on Friday.
The announcement was issued through the Rewards for Justice Program under the United States Department of State. Authorities said the individuals targeted in the notice are believed to command and oversee various elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington accuses of planning and carrying out attacks around the world.
In addition to Mojtaba Khamenei, the notice also named Ali Asghar Hejazi, deputy chief of staff in the office of the Supreme Leader, and Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser to the Iranian leadership.
Earlier the same day, Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defence, alleged that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader had been “injured” and was “possibly disabled” amid ongoing military operations involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Regional tensions in West Asia have escalated sharply since the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February. The attacks have reportedly killed about 1,300 people, including Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has since retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and several Gulf states hosting US military assets. The retaliatory attacks have caused casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, while also disrupting global markets and the aviation sector.
Observers note that the escalating conflict has intensified geopolitical uncertainty across the region, raising concerns over broader security implications and potential economic repercussions worldwide.
