Iran’s military announced on Sunday that it is offering a cash bounty of around $30,000 to anyone who kills, captures, or hands over US soldiers, promising to double the amount if the act is carried out by an Iranian woman. The announcement came from Iranian Army Chief Major General Amir Hatami and was carried by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Hatami stated that the reward valued at roughly 5 billion tomans—was set up following numerous requests from citizens wanting to financially support the armed forces, though he gave no specifics on where or how these actions are expected to unfold.
The move comes against the backdrop of persistent military friction and retaliatory strikes between Washington and Tehran that flared up following joint US-Israeli operations in late February. While American ground troops have not been deployed inside Iran—barring a targeted search-and-rescue mission in April to retrieve a downed pilot—the conflict has played out through long-range missile exchanges, drone attacks, and clashes across regional waterways. Maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, where Houthi forces continue to disrupt shipping lanes, remain central friction points that have complicated ongoing ceasefire efforts.
By setting a $60,000 reward for women who detain or eliminate American soldiers, Iranian officials appear to be blending domestic public messaging with psychological pressure on US forces. Security analysts view the bounty as part of Tehran's broader asymmetric strategy, aiming to raise the perceived risks for US personnel stationed across Middle Eastern bases and naval routes amid fragile regional stability.