Iran Offers $30,000 Bounty for Killing or Capturing US Soldiers

Iran's military has declared a reward of US$30,000 (5 billion tomans) for anyone who either kills or captures American soldiers, with the amount increased to US$60,000 for women who accomplish this. This statement was issued on Sunday by Amir Hatami, the chief of Iran's army, who noted that the initiative was prompted by numerous requests for participation, as reported by the IRNA state news agency. While Hatami did not provide details on the timing or location of such actions, he reiterated Iran's call for the US to withdraw from the Middle East, emphasizing that US forces are no longer authorized to enter the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, or the Strait of Hormuz. This bounty emerges amidst escalating regional tensions, despite no known deployment of US ground troops in Iran during the ongoing Middle East conflict, apart from a rescue operation in April for a downed American pilot. The announcement highlights the persistent hostilities and the use of financial rewards to motivate attacks on US military personnel.