Iranian Army Chief Amir Hatami has announced cash rewards for any Iranian citizen who kills or captures a United States serviceman, doubling the payout for women who carry out such actions. The declaration, made during a televised event carried by state broadcaster IRIB, signals a sharp escalation in rhetoric amid ongoing hostilities between Tehran and Washington.
Hatami stated that individuals who kill or capture and surrender an “American aggressor” will receive $30,000 or 5 billion Iranian tomans from the army. Women who successfully carry out the action will receive double that amount. Additionally, weapons used to kill American troops will be purchased by the state for twice their value and displayed in a planned museum, with owners receiving replacements.
The initiative, Hatami said, was drawn up after “numerous requests” from Iranians seeking to take part in the nation’s defense. He also warned Washington against putting troops on Iranian soil, asserting that U.S. forces are “no longer permitted to enter the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.” Hatami added that Tehran would not allow U.S. bases in the region to return to their “previous state.”
The announcement comes as Western media report that the United States is considering ground operations inside Iran. According to the New York Post, the Pentagon has examined a major raid to seize Tehran’s stockpile of enriched uranium from heavily fortified nuclear facilities, an operation that could involve thousands of troops. U.S. personnel have already been on Iranian soil during the current conflict. In April, an F-15E fighter jet went down over Iran, prompting large-scale rescue operations for its two crew members. Iranian forces and local residents searched for the airmen, while Tehran reportedly offered cash rewards for their capture. Both were eventually recovered by U.S. forces.
The U.S. and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran in late February, accusing Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with strikes on American and Israeli targets across the region. A temporary ceasefire later collapsed, and indirect negotiations have failed to produce a lasting settlement. Washington has continued military and economic pressure on Tehran, while Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.
The latest reward offer underscores the deepening confrontation and the potential for asymmetric warfare. By incentivizing individual acts of violence against U.S. personnel, Iran appears to be broadening the scope of engagement beyond conventional state-on-state clashes. Analysts warn that such measures could further destabilize the region and complicate diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. The next moves by Washington and its allies will likely determine whether the current standoff expands into a wider ground conflict.
