Washington is offering a reward of up to $20 million, along with possible relocation, for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, the US military said on Friday, as President Donald Trump reiterated that Tehran was eager to negotiate an end to the war.
The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme is seeking information about Iran’s nuclear facilities, equipment and personnel, including members of its scientific community, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X.
“The Rewards for Justice programme is offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear programme,” CENTCOM said.
Established in 1984, the programme offers financial rewards for information that helps protect American lives and national security interests.
In its statement, the State Department cited Iran’s failure to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) safeguards obligations, saying this had resulted in the agency losing “continuity of knowledge” about Iran’s production and stockpiles of key nuclear components, including centrifuges.
However, Washington did not specify what information would qualify for the maximum $20 million reward.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that US military strikes have effectively destroyed Iran’s nuclear programme.
“If we didn’t hit Iran, you wouldn’t have Israel today,” Trump said on Friday night in West Palm Beach, Florida. “If they had nuclear, they would have used nuclear. They would have obliterated the Middle East.”
Despite his claims of military success, Trump maintained that Tehran was keen to negotiate an end to the conflict, which has now lasted eight months.
“We’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly,” he said, adding that Iran’s economy and military capabilities had been severely weakened by the war.
Diplomatic efforts by mediators have intensified in recent days in a bid to prevent a renewed outbreak of fighting.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that his government remained committed to resolving the crisis through dialogue.
Earlier this week, Trump said Washington still needed to “take care” of one or two remaining targets, including the so-called Pickaxe Mountain site in central Iran, which is suspected of being linked to the country’s nuclear programme. Tehran has denied that the site is a nuclear facility.
AFP
