Photo: Foxnews
Iran has announced a cash reward for anyone who kills or captures a U.S. service member, with the payout doubled if the act is carried out by a woman.
Iranian Army Chief of Staff Major General Amir Hatami said the initiative was launched following requests from Iranians who wanted to financially support such actions, Fox News reports.
Anyone who kills, captures and hands over a U.S. service member to the Iranian military would receive $30,000, or 5 billion tomans, Hatami said. Iranian women would be eligible for double the reward.
Hatami did not specify where or when such attacks were expected. There is currently no large-scale U.S. ground presence inside Iran, apart from a localized rescue operation in April 2026 involving a downed American pilot.
The general also called on U.S. forces to leave the region, claiming Washington could no longer restore its previous military presence or operate freely in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.
Hatami further claimed that Iranian projectiles had struck the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln at least once, temporarily disrupting flight operations. Previous Iranian claims of attacks on U.S. carriers have been denied by Washington. The carrier remains deployed in the Arabian Sea, while the USS George Washington is heading toward the Middle East to replace it.
Strait of Hormuz remains restricted
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass, has remained largely closed since February 28 due to Iranian restrictions amid the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Iran and Oman agreed on a shipping plan for the strait on August 15, but Tehran says the agreement alone will not restore normal traffic and is demanding broader concessions from Washington. The United States opposes mandatory transit fees and restrictions on shipping.
