Iranian Army Chief Amir Hatami has announced a $30,000 bounty for anyone who kills or captures a US soldier, with the reward reportedly doubled if the act is carried out by a woman, amid ongoing friction between Tehran and Washington.
The Announcement
The decision reportedly comes after what Hatami described as a "large number of requests" from individuals seeking to participate, according to state-run news agency IRNA. He did not, however, specify any location or timeframe for such a potential attack or capture.
"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 said, using an informal monetary unit equivalent to 10,000 Iranian rials. He added, "Courageous Iranian women who carry out such an action will receive double the reward."
Reiterating Iran's Demands on US Forces
Hatami also reiterated Tehran's standing demand for the withdrawal of US forces from the region, stating that American forces "no longer have permission to enter the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman or the Strait of Hormuz."
Notably, this announcement comes despite there being no known deployment of US ground troops inside Iran during the current conflict, aside from a major rescue operation in April, which involved approximately 200 US personnel and over 170 aircraft to recover the weapons systems officer of a downed F-15.
The Broader Conflict Timeline
Hostilities in this conflict began on February 28, following US and Israeli strikes targeting Iran. Fighting was subsequently halted by an April ceasefire, followed by an attempted framework for peace negotiations in June that ultimately collapsed without resolution.
Since that breakdown, Iran and the US have exchanged sporadic fire, predominantly around southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Indirect communication via mediators has continued, though no major diplomatic breakthrough has emerged so far.
According to reports, seventeen US military personnel have lost their lives since the conflict began, with the most recent casualties reported in July. All were reportedly killed outside Iranian territory, including in Jordan and Iraq.
FAQs
Q1. What did Iran's Army Chief announce regarding US soldiers?
Amir Hatami announced a $30,000 bounty for anyone who kills or captures a US soldier, with the reward doubled if the act is carried out by a woman.
Q2. Are there currently US ground troops deployed inside Iran?
No, there is no known deployment of US ground troops inside Iran during the current conflict, apart from a rescue operation in April involving around 200 personnel to recover a downed pilot.
Q3. How many US military personnel have died since the conflict began?
Seventeen US military personnel have died since the conflict began on February 28, with all reported casualties occurring outside Iranian territory, including in Jordan and Iraq.