Washington, District of Columbia, United States — The government of the United States has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information that could help identify or locate several senior Iranian officials, including Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The announcement was made on Friday, March 13, 2026, by the United States Department of State through its long running Rewards for Justice programme, an initiative that offers financial rewards for information related to individuals suspected of involvement in international terrorism.
According to a public notice shared by the programme on the social media platform X, the reward targets several figures in Iran’s leadership who the United States government alleges are linked to activities carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The notice stated, “These individuals command and direct various elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which plans, organises and executes terrorism around the world.”
Among those named in the announcement is Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly installed Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Other officials listed include Iran’s Minister of Intelligence, Esmail Khatib; Ali Asghar Hejazi, deputy chief of staff to the supreme leader; Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser; and Eskandar Momeni, Iran’s interior minister.
Also mentioned is Ali Larijani, who currently serves as secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council. The poster issued by the Rewards for Justice programme further referred to several senior positions linked to Iran’s leadership structure without naming the individuals currently occupying them. These include the secretary of the Supreme Defence Council, the head of the supreme leader’s military office, the commander in chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and an adviser to the supreme leader.
Officials behind the programme said individuals with credible information about these figures, or about senior commanders and operational networks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, could submit tips through encrypted communication systems or via a special contact channel accessible through the Tor network, a system designed to allow anonymous online communication.
The programme added that people who provide verified information could qualify for financial rewards of up to $10 million and may also receive relocation assistance if required for their safety.
Okay News reports that the announcement comes during a period of heightened tensions between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran following recent leadership changes in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday, March 8, 2026, after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who had served as the country’s supreme leader for decades. Iranian authorities said Ali Khamenei was killed during the early phase of the ongoing conflict involving Iran and a coalition made up of the United States and Israel.
The 56 year old cleric was selected by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, a powerful clerical body responsible for appointing and supervising the country’s supreme leader.
Soon after the announcement of his appointment, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, one of Iran’s most influential military and security institutions, publicly pledged loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei as the country faces increasing military pressure from the United States and Israel.
In his first statement after assuming leadership, Khamenei declared that Iran would continue retaliatory operations against what he described as its enemies and suggested that the confrontation could continue until Iran achieves what he called justice for casualties suffered during the conflict.
The message was read on Iranian state television rather than delivered directly by Khamenei in person. In the statement, he also warned that Iran could maintain pressure on strategic oil shipping routes in the Persian Gulf region and cautioned neighbouring countries that host United States military bases that they might face retaliatory action.
Since assuming office, Khamenei has not appeared publicly, which has led to speculation about his condition. Some officials in the United States have suggested he may have been injured during the conflict. However, Iranian authorities maintain that he remains actively involved in governing the country.
