Washington, March 14: The United States has authorized a reward of up to $10 million, approximately ₹92.47 crore, for information leading to the identification or location of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and other high-ranking officials. This move, made public on Friday through the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program, targets several senior figures linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Diplomatic Security Service, which oversees the program, stated that the named individuals are responsible for directing IRGC elements accused of planning and executing global operations.
The announcement comes as the ongoing military confrontation between Iran and the US-Israel alliance enters its third week. The conflict intensified following the February 28 strikes that resulted in the death of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei. In a recent interview with Fox News Radio, US President Donald Trump commented on the trajectory of the mission. “We’re going to be hitting them very hard over the next week,” Trump asserted, suggesting that the current campaign is designed to significantly impact the strength of Iran’s leadership.
Among those listed alongside Mojtaba Khamenei are Ali Asghar Hejazi, the deputy chief of staff of the Supreme Leader’s office, and security chief Ali Larijani. Due to a lack of available photography for some individuals, the official announcement utilized silhouettes to represent certain figures. The US government has indicated that those providing tips via the Tor-based tipline or the encrypted Signal app may be eligible for financial compensation and potential relocation.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth provided details on the scale of the military engagement, noting that coalition forces have struck over 15,000 targets since the offensive began. “We have averaged over 1,000 strikes per day,” Hegseth maintained, adding that these actions have drastically curtailed Iran’s retaliatory capabilities. According to defense officials, missile attacks have decreased by 90 per cent and drone strikes by 95 per cent.
The instability has caused significant ripples in the global economy, particularly after the Revolutionary Guards closed the Strait of Hormuz. With 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply typically passing through this route, oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel. The closure has sparked widespread concerns regarding the long-term stability of global energy markets as the regional confrontation persists.
