WASHINGTON D.C. — In a dramatic escalation of pressure on the Iranian regime, the Donald Trump administration announced on Friday (March 13, local time) a massive reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the disruption of key leadership within the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Targeting the Core of the Regime
The U.S. State Department’s "Rewards for Justice" (RFJ) program officially listed Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ali Khamenei and recently appointed Supreme Leader, as its primary target. The bounty marks one of the most aggressive financial strikes against the Iranian leadership's inner circle in recent years.
Alongside the Supreme Leader, the State Department identified several high-ranking officials as targets for the reward:
-Asghar Hejazi: Chief of the Supreme Leader’s Office.
-Yahya Rahim Safavi: Military Advisor to the Supreme Leader.
-Ali Larijani: Advisor to the Supreme Leader and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
-Eskandar Momeni: Minister of Interior.
-Esmail Khatib: Minister of Intelligence.
The department also requested information on several unnamed officials, including the Secretary General of the Defense Council and the Commander of the IRGC, emphasizing that these individuals oversee the "planning, organizing, and execution of global terrorism."
A Decisive Move Against the IRGC
The State Department reiterated its stance from April 2019, classifying the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The Treasury Department had previously designated the group as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" due to its continuous support for the elite Quds Force.
"The IRGC is a primary instrument of Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism," the State Department noted in its announcement. "These leaders command various units that facilitate terror operations worldwide."
Global Outreach and Relocation Incentives
The announcement was also broadcast via the RFJ’s official account on X (formerly Twitter), urging anyone with actionable intelligence to come forward. The post stated, "Do you have information on these Iranian terror leaders? Send us the details. You may be eligible for a reward and relocation assistance."
This offer of relocation suggests the U.S. is prepared to provide sanctuary to high-level defectors or informants who can provide internal data on the regime's clandestine operations.
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