Washington, DC: The United States has dangled a carrot for information on Iran’s nuclear programme.
It has offered a reward of up to $20 million, along with possible relocation, for information about the programme, including its facilities, equipment, scientific personnel and the movement of materials.
The offer was made by the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme, with the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) also sharing the information in a post on X on Friday.
Washington is seeking information that could help identify Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and individuals associated with the programme, particularly members of its scientific community, according to the official reward notice.
It urged people with relevant information to submit tips through its official reporting channels. Possible relocation is among the incentives being offered to informants, in addition to the financial reward.
The reward offer comes amid continued concerns over Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and questions about the extent to which international inspectors can monitor the country’s nuclear programme, as reported by News18.
The notice cites International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting from 2025, which said Iran was enriching uranium to 60 per cent purity. This is significantly higher than the level typically required for civilian nuclear applications, although it remains below the roughly 90 per cent enrichment generally associated with weapons-grade uranium.
Iran has been declared as the only non-nuclear-weapon state producing uranium at such a high enrichment level. Experts estimate the stockpile, if further enriched, could potentially provide enough material for several nuclear weapons, the notice says.
It also points to concerns over Iran’s compliance with its safeguards obligations to the IAEA. According to the programme, the agency has lost what it describes as “continuity of knowledge” regarding Iran’s production and inventory of key nuclear components, including centrifuges. These machines are used to enrich uranium and are central to the country’s nuclear programme.
The reward specifically seeks information about nuclear facilities, equipment, personnel and movements involving materials or assets linked to the programme.
In the past, Washington has announced several financial to obtain information about Iran-linked networks and individuals. In 2019, the US State Department offered up to $15 million for information that could disrupt the financial networks of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including its Quds Force. The campaign targeted alleged illicit oil sales, front companies and sanctions evasion.
The US also announced a reward of up to $20 million in 2024 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of IRGC member Shahram Poursafi, who was accused of plotting to kill former US national security adviser John Bolton.
