Iran’s military has announced a reward of about $30,000 for anyone who kills or captures a US soldier, with women promised twice that amount if they carry out the act.
Army Chief, Amir Hatami said the initiative was introduced following what he described as numerous requests from individuals seeking to contribute financially to the country’s military efforts, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
However, Hatami did not specify where or when the alleged targeting of US military personnel was expected to occur.
“There has been a large number of requests to participate in financial support,” Hatami said, explaining the basis for the initiative.
Under the scheme, anyone who kills or captures and hands over a US military personnel would receive the equivalent of $30,000, or five billion Iranian tomans, from the Iranian Army.
Hatami added that Iranian women who successfully carry out such an act would be eligible for twice the standard reward.
“Courageous Iranian women who carry out such an action will receive double the reward,” he said.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions and intermittent hostilities between Iran and the United States.
There has been no known deployment of US ground troops inside Iran during the conflict, apart from a rescue operation in April involving an American pilot whose aircraft had been brought down.
According to the report, the conflict between Tehran and Washington began on February 28, following a US-Israeli attack on Iran. The fighting continued for nearly 40 days before an April ceasefire was reached.
A framework for peace negotiations was subsequently agreed in June, but the process later broke down.
Since then, Iran and the United States have continued to exchange fire intermittently, with much of the reported fighting concentrated in southern Iran and areas surrounding the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Iran announces $30,000 reward to anyone who captures, kills US soldiers