Iran offers $30,000 bounty for killing, capturing US soldiers

Tehran, Iran's military has announced a $30,000 bounty for the killing or capturing of US soldiers, with the reward doubling for female participants, according to the IRNA state news agency. Army chief Amir Hatami revealed the plan was devised in response to numerous requests for financial support. There have been no documented instances of US ground forces operating within Iran during the ongoing Middle East conflict, aside from a rescue mission in April for an American pilot who had been shot down.

Hatami did not specify the location or timing of the intended killing or capture of US personnel. "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 stated, using a colloquial unit equal to 10,000 Iranian rials.

"Courageous Iranian women who carry out such an action will receive double the reward," he added. The conflict between Iran and the United States escalated on February 28 following a joint American-Israeli strike against Iran. This was followed by a ceasefire in April after approximately 40 days of hostilities, and the signing of a peace framework in June, which ultimately fell through.

Since then, sporadic violence has continued, predominantly centered in southern Iran and the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.