U.S. offers up to $20 million for information on Iran’s nuclear program

The United States has announced a reward of up to $20 million for information regarding Iran's nuclear program, as part of its Rewards for Justice program. This reward covers details about Iran's facilities, equipment, and personnel involved in the scientific community. In 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran had enriched uranium to 60% purity, which is a significant step towards developing nuclear weapons.

Experts estimate that if Iran were to enrich the uranium further to the 90% level required for nuclear weapons, it could potentially produce enough material for several nuclear weapons. The U.S. Department of State noted that Iran's failure to comply with IAEA safeguards obligations has led to a loss of "continuity of knowledge" concerning Iran's production and inventory of key components, including nuclear centrifuges.

In late October, it was reported that U.S. President Donald Trump was considering three options in relation to Iran: negotiating a peace agreement, resuming hostilities, or applying economic pressure. Trump has indicated that he is not in a rush to make a decision. On October 23, during a campaign rally in Florida, Trump suggested that the United States could launch another military operation against Iran.

Later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel published an AI-generated image depicting a nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv on October 25, warning of the potential "second Holocaust" if Iran acquired nuclear weapons.

A U.S. official cited by Axios journalist Barak Ravid suggested that a Republican defeat in the midterm elections could possibly encourage Trump to more readily approve a large-scale military operation against Iran. On November 2, the United States carried out a series of strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iranian attacks.