The United States is offering a reward of up to $20 million, along with possible relocation, for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment and personnel, as diplomatic efforts continue to secure a deal to end the more than eight-month-old war.US Central Command (Centcom) announced the offer on Friday through a post on X, saying the State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme was seeking information about Iran’s nuclear activities, including details about scientists and the movement of related equipment and personnel.“Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community, or the movement of any of the above,” Centcom said.The programme was established in 1984 under the State Department’s national security rewards initiative to offer financial incentives for information that protects American lives and interests.In its statement, the State Department said Iran’s “lack of compliance with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) on safeguards obligations has led to the agency’s loss of ‘continuity of knowledge’ regarding Iran’s production and inventory of key components like centrifuges”.It did not specify what information would qualify for the maximum $20 million reward.
Trump says Iran wants deal as diplomatic efforts continue
The announcement came as US President Donald Trump reiterated that Tehran was keen to reach an agreement to end the conflict, while claiming that Iran’s economy and military had been severely damaged over eight months of war.“We’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly,” Trump said on Friday night in West Palm Beach, Florida.He also defended the US military campaign against Iran, saying, “If we didn’t hit Iran, you wouldn’t have Israel today. If they had nuclear, they would have used nuclear. They would have obliterated the Middle East.”Trump has repeatedly claimed that US forces have effectively obliterated Iran’s nuclear programme. Earlier this week, he said he still had to “take care” of one or two targets, including the so-called Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran, a suspected nuclear site that Tehran denies is a nuclear facility.Diplomatic efforts by mediators have continued to prevent a resumption of fighting. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said earlier this week that his government was still trying to resolve the crisis through dialogue.
US carries out fresh strikes as Qatar pushes proposals
Meanwhile, Trump said the US military carried out fresh, limited strikes on Iran on Friday, targeting its air defence systems. He described the action as “minor”, saying the military had knocked out an Iranian anti-aircraft device within minutes.Iranian state media reported hearing two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which lies in the Strait of Hormuz. Friday’s strikes were the first since Trump’s Republican Party suffered a setback in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, losing both chambers of Congress.Earlier on Friday, two Middle East government officials told news agency AP that Iran was reviewing proposals presented by Qatar, the chief mediator, to address differences with Washington over Tehran’s nuclear programme.The officials said Iran was, however, unwilling to enter negotiations on its nuclear activities until the US agreed to several conditions demanded by Tehran as part of a ceasefire agreement.The reported proposals include a two-day set of trust-building measures. These involve lifting the US blockade on Iran’s ports and releasing some of Tehran’s frozen funds in exchange for allowing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to visit sites bombed by the US and Israel, according to regional officials cited by AP.On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a modified arrangement reached with Oman but not approved by the US, the officials said.This would be a temporary measure until a permanent agreement on the waterway could be reached with other Gulf countries.The US and Iran would then begin broader negotiations covering Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and other aspects of its nuclear programme, according to the officials.Iran has maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful. The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the country has 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity, a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent, AP reported.Iran has also demanded an end to the US blockade, the lifting of sanctions, the unfreezing of its assets, compensation for war damage and an end to hostilities across the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon, before entering nuclear talks.Diplomatic contacts have intensified in recent days. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke to his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, on Friday about developments in the region. Trump also spoke to Qatar’s emir about efforts to de-escalate tensions.Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi held separate calls with his Iraqi and Tunisian counterparts.During his conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Araghchi discussed Tehran’s position on resuming negotiations with Washington, according to Iraq’s News Agency.Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty also called for flexibility from both sides to reach compromise solutions and prevent another escalation in the region.