The United States government has announced a reward of up to $20 million for information regarding Iran's nuclear programme, according to a statement from the State Department's Rewards for Justice programme. The offer also includes the possibility of relocation for individuals who provide such details.
This development comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. President Donald Trump claimed last year that Iran's nuclear facilities had been "completely and totally obliterated" following a bombing campaign by the US and Israel. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful and that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.
Task Force Iron Gate
In a related move, the US military's Central Command (Centcom) announced the establishment of Task Force Iron Gate, which will operate from Tampa, Florida. The task force is designed to enhance Washington's efforts to restrict Iran's movement of weapons and sanctioned materials across its borders. It will also focus on dual-use items and illegal revenue streams.
Centcom estimates that its naval blockade of Iran's ports has prevented the country from exporting more than $25 billion in crude oil.
The State Department's statement emphasized that the reward is for information on Iran's nuclear programme, including "facilities, equipment and associated personnel." It noted that Iran's "lack of compliance with the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] on safeguards obligations has led to the agency's loss of 'continuity of knowledge' regarding Iran's production and inventory of key components like [nuclear] centrifuges."
Centrifuges are essential for producing enriched uranium, which can be used for civilian reactor fuel or, if enriched to around 90% purity or higher, for nuclear weapons.
Speculation and Diplomacy
There has been mounting speculation that the US might resume significant strikes in Iran after the midterm elections. However, President Trump told reporters before the polls that he was in "no rush" to do so. In an interview with Fox News on the eve of the midterms, the president also mentioned that the US "might need to go after Pickaxe [Mountain]," an underground site linked to Iran's nuclear programme, adding that this was "not a big deal" and could be done in "one hour."
Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb the suspected underground site on previous occasions. Nevertheless, both Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have said that public opposition to the war on Iran fuelled heavy losses for their Republican Party in this week's midterm elections, leading to speculation that the White House may no longer seek an escalation in the conflict.
On Friday, Trump insisted that Iran was keen to end the eight-month conflict with the US, stressing the damage to Tehran's economy and military. "We're dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly," he said.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that both sides were "reviewing the ideas and proposals we have presented" and that it remained hopeful of a deal being agreed. Iranian negotiators had discussed with mediators a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days once the US met its seven conditions.
The US and Iran reached a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the strait in June, but it collapsed within weeks after Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade.
