Ateker TV 
In a significant escalation of pressure against Tehran, the United States has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to senior Iranian military and intelligence officials, including the country’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
The State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program is targeting ten key figures associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington accuses of orchestrating global terrorist activities .
The announcement comes amid heightened Middle East tensions following the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
His son Mojtaba, believed to have been wounded in the same attacks, has not appeared publicly since assuming leadership, though he issued his first written statement on Thursday.
Key Figures Targeted
The reward list includes several prominent Iranian officials:
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei – Iran’s new Supreme Leader, who succeeded his father
Ali Larijani – Security chief and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council
Esmail Khatib – Minister of Intelligence and Security
Eskandar Momeni – Interior Minister
Ali Asghar Hejazi – Deputy chief of staff in the supreme leader’s office
Yahya Rahim Safavi – Senior military adviser to the supreme leader
Additionally, four unnamed positions are being sought, including the IRGC Commander-in-Chief, Secretary of the Supreme Defense Council, Head of the Supreme Leader’s Military Office, and Special Adviser to the Supreme Leader.
Conflicting Reports on Khamenei’s Condition
Questions persist regarding Mojtaba Khamenei’s health following the February 28 strikes. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the new leader is “wounded and likely disfigured,” questioning his ability to govern.
Some unconfirmed reports suggested severe injuries including leg amputation and coma, though Iranian officials have denied these claims .
Iran’s ambassador to Japan stated Khamenei’s injuries do not impair his functioning, while the leader’s first statement—read by a television presenter rather than delivered in person—vowed to continue pressure on US bases and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.
Public Defiance in Tehran
Despite US assertions that Iranian leadership is “cowering,” Security Chief Ali Larijani appeared publicly Friday at Quds Day rallies in Tehran alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Video verified by Reuters showed officials marching defiantly, with Larijani dismissing US attacks as acts of “desperation”.
“The more America pressures them, the stronger their resolve becomes,” Larijani stated at the rally.
Reward Program Details
The Rewards for Justice initiative offers up to $10 million for information, with the State Department encouraging tipsters to use encrypted platforms like Tor browser or Signal.
Officials indicate that informants may also qualify for relocation assistance .
“These individuals command and direct various elements of the IRGC, which plans, organizes, and executes terrorism around the world,” the State Department said in its announcement.
Broader Context
The reward announcement reflects dramatically escalated US-Iran tensions since the February 28 joint US-Israeli operation that killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and multiple top officials.
Iran has responded with Operation True Promise 4, launching drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Gulf states, and US assets in the region.
The IRGC, established after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, remains loyal to the supreme leader and tasked with protecting the Shi’ite clerical establishment. The US designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization, accusations Iran routinely dismisses as politically motivated .
Neither the Revolutionary Guards nor Iran’s UN mission have commented on the reward program.
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