The U.S. State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the whereabouts of Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed Supreme Leader of Iran, and other key leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The reward, part of the "Rewards for Justice" program, was announced in a statement on the program's website, though no specific publication date was mentioned. The news gained significant attention on March 13, according to reports by DW.
Along with Khamenei, nine other senior Iranian figures were added to the list of targets. The individuals named include Ali Asghar Hejazi, head of the Supreme Leader’s office; Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council; Yahya Rahim Safavi, senior military advisor; Eskandar Momeni, Minister of the Interior; and Esmail Khatib, Minister of Intelligence.
The list also includes unnamed officials such as the Secretary of the Defense Council, the Supreme Leader’s military advisor, and the commander of the IRGC.
While the maximum reward under the program can reach $25 million, the U.S. has offered a lower reward of up to $10 million for information related to the Iranian leadership. The State Department has also offered safety assistance to informants, including possible relocation. Tips can be submitted via the Tor browser and Signal messaging app.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was named as the new Supreme Leader of Iran on March 9. He is the second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli-American airstrike on February 28. The strike also killed dozens of high-ranking Iranian officials, including nearly all of the country’s senior military leaders.
Several members of the Khamenei family died in the attack, and it was later confirmed that Mojtaba was injured in the strike.
On March 12, Khamenei made his first public statement as Supreme Leader, vowing to take revenge for those killed in the airstrikes and confirming that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would continue.
The address was read by a state television anchor, as Khamenei did not appear on screen. This led to widespread speculation that he may have been seriously injured or possibly killed.
