Iranian Army chief Amir Hatami has announced a $30,000 bounty for anyone who kills or captures a US soldier, with the reward doubled to $60,000 if the act is carried out by an Iranian woman. The announcement comes amid continued tensions between Tehran and Washington, despite there being no known deployment of US ground troops inside Iran.Hatami said the plan was drawn up following “the large number of requests” from people seeking to participate, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. He did not specify where or when any attempt to kill or capture US personnel could take place.“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.“Courageous Iranian women who carry out such an action will receive double the reward,” he added.The Iranian military chief also reiterated Tehran’s demand for the withdrawal of US forces from the region, saying “they no longer have permission to enter the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman or the Strait of Hormuz”.Iran’s bounty offer amid fragile ceasefireThe announcement comes as the ceasefire between Iran and the US remains fragile, with the two sides continuing to exchange sporadic fire, particularly around southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.The conflict began on February 28 after the United States, joined by Israel, launched strikes against Iran. Fighting was followed by an April ceasefire after nearly 40 days of hostilities, while a framework for peace talks reached in June later collapsed.There has been no known deployment of US ground forces inside Iranian territory during the conflict, apart from a rescue mission in April involving US personnel sent to recover the weapons systems officer of a downed F-15.The latest announcement therefore comes without any confirmed US ground presence inside Iran that could be targeted under the bounty.According to the reports, 17 US military personnel have been killed since the conflict began. All of the reported deaths occurred outside Iranian territory, including in Iraq and Jordan, with the most recent casualties reported in July.Hatami warns US over Gulf accessHatami used the announcement to reinforce Tehran’s broader demand that Washington withdraw its forces from the region.His comments come as indirect communication between Iran and the US continues through mediators, although there has been no major diplomatic breakthrough following the collapse of the June peace framework.The two countries have instead remained locked in a tense standoff, with the Strait of Hormuz and waters around southern Iran emerging as key areas of confrontation.The bounty announcement further escalates the rhetoric between Tehran and Washington, even as both sides remain engaged through indirect channels aimed at preventing a wider conflict.
