Iran’s military chief, Amir Hatami, has reportedly announced a $30,000 reward for anyone who kills or captures a US military personnel, with the reward doubled for Iranian women who carry out such an act.
Hatami said there had been “a large number of requests” for bounties to be offered for American soldiers, despite the absence of US ground forces currently operating inside Iran.
“Anyone who kills or captures and hands over an invading American military personnel will receive a reward equivalent to $30,000 or 5 billion tomans from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army,” Hatami was quoted as saying by IRNA.
He added that “courageous Iranian women” who carried out such an action would receive twice the stated reward.
According to reports, Hatami also claimed that the weapon used to kill an American soldier would be preserved in a proposed museum.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States following the outbreak of the latest conflict between the two countries on February 28.
According to the report, 18 US service members have died since the conflict began, with the deaths occurring outside Iran in airstrikes and ammunition-related incidents.
The last reported instance of a US soldier being on Iranian territory occurred in April, when an F-15E fighter jet crashed, prompting a rescue operation for its pilot and weapons specialist.
The reported bounty announcement comes as US President Donald Trump continues to accuse Iran of facing financial difficulties, while a renewed US naval blockade is reportedly putting further pressure on the Iranian economy.