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

Teheran, Iran has announced a US$30,000 bounty for the killing or capturing of US soldiers, with the reward doubled for women. Army chief Amir Hatami revealed this plan was prompted by numerous requests for participation. There has been no documented US ground forces in Iran during the ongoing conflict, apart from a rescue mission in April for a fallen American airman.

Hatami, however, did not specify the location or timing of the target killings. He emphasized that anyone who eliminates or secures an American military member and returns them will receive the reward, equivalent to 5 billion tomans. Iranian women involved in such actions will receive double the amount. Iran has persistently urged the US to withdraw from the Middle East, stating they no longer possess authorization to enter the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, or the Strait of Hormuz.

The war between Iran and the US commenced on February 28, following the US and Israel's assault on Iran. A month into the conflict, the US executed a large-scale rescue operation to retrieve an F-15 jet's weapon systems officer, involving approximately 200 US troops and more than 170 aircraft. An A-10 ground attack aircraft was damaged during the rescue, which landed safely on friendly soil.

The US subsequently abandoned and destroyed various aircraft utilized in the mission, including a C-130 transport plane. Prior to this mission, the pilot of the F-15 was rescued by helicopter during a smaller operation. The war was temporarily halted by a ceasefire in April after nearly 40 days of fighting, followed by a June framework for peace talks, which ultimately fell apart.

Since the war's inception, Iran and the US have engaged in sporadic skirmishes, primarily in southern Iran and near the Strait of Hormuz. Indirect communication between the two sides through mediators has persisted with minimal progress towards a diplomatic resolution. Iran has also outlined demands for reopening the strait, which include seeking war reparations.

As of the war's start, 17 US military personnel have been killed, all outside Iran in countries such as Jordan and Iraq.