Major Escalation: Iran Places $30,000 Bounty on US Soldiers, Doubling Reward for Female Combatants

TEHRAN — In a dramatic and provocative escalation of ongoing Middle East tensions, Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami announced a formal bounty equivalent to $30,000 (5 billion tomans) for anyone who kills or captures an American military service member.

The announcement, broadcast via state media, adds fuel to an already volatile geopolitical standoff and introduces a contentious new dynamic to the fragile, post-ceasefire landscape between Washington and Tehran.

A "Financial Jihad" and Unprecedented Incentives

Speaking to military academy students and officials in Tehran, General Hatami claimed that the incentive program was established in response to an overwhelming volume of public requests to participate in what he termed "financial jihad".

Under the newly outlined directive, any individual who kills or captures and hands over an "invading American military personnel" will receive the cash reward, guaranteed by the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army. In a striking addition, Hatami declared that the bounty would be doubled to $60,000 for "courageous Iranian women" who successfully carry out such an action.

Military analysts note that while the rhetoric marks a sharp spike in hostile posturing, there is currently no known deployment of US ground forces inside Iranian territory, rendering the practical application of the threat primarily symbolic or focused on regional flashpoints.

Demands for Regional Withdrawal and Strained Ceasefires

The announcement was accompanied by a defiant reiteration of Tehran's core strategic demands. Hatami asserted that Washington no longer holds authority in regional waters, declaring that US forces "no longer have permission to enter the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, or the Strait of Hormuz".

The move comes amid a deeply fragile security environment. Since hostilities erupted earlier in the year, subsequent frameworks for peace talks have repeatedly fractured, leaving both nations locked in a tense standoff characterized by sporadic exchanges of fire around southern maritime routes.

International monitors and diplomatic channels have expressed alarm over the bounty declaration, warning that such measures risk derailing lingering indirect efforts to de-escalate the conflict and protect shipping lanes in the region. Washington has yet to issue an official formal response to the proclamation.