Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Iran Offers $30,000 Bounty for Killing or Capturing US Soldiers
Iran's military said it would pay $30,000 to anyone who hurts or catches an American soldier.
That is a lot of money.
If a woman does it, the money is doubled to $60,000.
The army's leader, Amir Hatami, said many people wanted to help pay for this.
He did not say where or when such actions should happen.
The United States and Iran have been having a war since February 28.
They stopped fighting in April after about 40 days.
In June they signed a peace agreement, but it has not really worked.
The two countries are still having small fights near southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran also said American forces are no longer allowed in the Persian Gulf.
So far, 17 American soldiers have died, but none inside Iran.
Iran's Army chief Amir Hatami announced a $30,000 bounty for anyone who kills or captures and hands over an American soldier, according to state news agency IRNA.
The reward, worth around 5 billion tomans, is doubled to $60,000 if the action is carried out by an Iranian woman.
Hatami said the initiative came after a "large number of requests" from people wanting to contribute financially to the military, but gave no details on where or when it would apply.
According to The Jerusalem Post, awardees would also get their weapon bought at double the price, receive a new weapon, and have the used weapon kept in a planned museum.
The announcement comes during the US-Iran war that began February 28, after an April ceasefire and a fragile June framework, with 17 US military personnel killed so far, all outside Iran.
- Who
- Iran's military and its Army chief Amir Hatami, announced via the IRNA state news agency
- What
- Offered a $30,000 bounty (5 billion tomans) for killing or capturing US soldiers, doubled to $60,000 if carried out by an Iranian woman
- When
- Announced on Sunday, amid a war that began February 28, with an April ceasefire and a June 17 framework that has remained fragile
- Where
- Iran; US-Iran fighting has mainly centred in southern Iran and around the Strait of Hormuz
- Why
- Following a "large number of requests" from people who wanted to contribute financially to Iran's military efforts, and as Tehran demands US withdrawal from the Middle East
Iran's Perspective
US Perspective
Bounty for US soldiers
Iran's Perspective
Iran frames the reward as a response to public requests for financial support against what it calls "invading" American forces.
US Perspective
The US would likely view the bounty as encouragement of violence against its military personnel, escalating an already fragile conflict.
Ceasefire and peace talks
Iran's Perspective
Iran argues the US claims about its military power were exposed during the war, and says American forces "no longer have permission to enter" the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman or Strait of Hormuz.
US Perspective
The US side would likely point to the fragile ceasefire, stalled talks, and the 17 US military personnel killed outside Iran as signs of continued Iranian hostilities.
- Bounty amount
- $30,000 or around 5 billion tomans
- Reward for women
- Doubled, equivalent to $60,000
- Announced by
- Iranian Army chief Amir Hatami
- Source
- IRNA state news agency via AFP
- War start date
- February 28, with US and Israel attacks on Iran
- Ceasefire
- April, after nearly 40 days of fighting
- Peace framework
- US-Iran Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed June 17; ceasefire remains fragile
- US military fatalities
- 17 since the war began, all outside Iran (e.g., Iraq and Jordan)
