US Announces Up to $10 Million Reward for Information on Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and Other Senior Officials

 The United States State Department has launched a major incentive under its Rewards for Justice program, offering up to $10 million for actionable information leading to the identification, location, or prosecution of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and nine other high-ranking figures tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Announced Friday through a public poster and program channels, the reward targets what the department describes as key "Iranian terrorist leaders" who "command and direct various elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which plans, organizes and executes terrorism around the world." Eligible tips could also qualify informants for relocation to the United States, providing a pathway to safety alongside financial compensation.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following the latter's death in recent U.S.-Israeli strikes, heads the list. Other named individuals include Ali Asghar Hejazi, deputy chief of staff in the Supreme Leader's office; Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Iran's top security official; Esmail Khatib, Minister of Intelligence and Security; Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser to the Supreme Leader; and Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. The full roster encompasses 10 officials linked to the IRGC and its military branches.

The move comes amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, now in its third week, which has targeted nuclear sites, military infrastructure, and senior leadership. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly referenced the new Supreme Leader's reported injuries from strikes, describing him as "likely disfigured," while emphasizing continued pressure on the regime.

The Rewards for Justice program, administered by the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, has a long history of offering bounties for intelligence on terrorism suspects. Informants are encouraged to submit details anonymously via secure channels, including a Tor-based tipline or Signal messaging. The IRGC was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2019, framing its activities as a global threat.

Iran has dismissed the allegations as baseless propaganda, with officials rejecting U.S. claims of terrorism sponsorship. Tehran maintains that the IRGC serves defensive and revolutionary purposes, protecting the Islamic Republic from external aggression. The bounty announcement has drawn sharp rebukes from Iranian state media, portraying it as an act of desperation amid battlefield setbacks.

Analysts view the reward as part of a broader U.S. strategy to sow internal discord, gather intelligence on leadership movements, and encourage defections or leaks during a period of regime vulnerability. With Mojtaba Khamenei largely out of public view since assuming power, speculation about his health and location has fueled rumors, making precise information particularly valuable.

The offer extends beyond mere location data to include details that could aid in disrupting operations or pursuing legal action. Previous Rewards for Justice payouts have reached millions for tips leading to high-profile captures, though success often depends on the credibility and specificity of submissions.

As the conflict escalates with Iran retaliating through proxy attacks, drone swarms, and maritime disruptions the U.S. continues to signal unrelenting pursuit of regime figures it holds responsible for regional instability. For ordinary Iranians or insiders with access to sensitive details, the promise of substantial reward and relocation presents a high-stakes opportunity, even as it risks severe repercussions if discovered.