Iran offers cash rewards for killing or capturing US soldiers

On August 16, 2026, the Iranian military announced a formal offer of financial rewards for anyone who kills or captures a U.S. soldier on Iranian territory. Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Amir Khatami, stated that the policy was adopted in response to a high volume of public requests to contribute financially to the cause.

The bounty is set at 30,000 U.S. dollars, equivalent to five million tomans, for the successful neutralization or capture of an American soldier labeled as an "occupier." Khatami further specified that female participants who carry out such actions will be eligible for double the standard reward, amounting to 60,000 dollars. The government frames these "invaders" as individuals violating Iranian soil.

While the announcement marks a significant escalation in rhetoric, official reports clarify that, aside from a single pilot rescue mission in April, there has been no deployment of American ground forces within Iran during the ongoing Middle East conflict. The initiative is presented as a state-sanctioned measure aimed at incentivizing civilian participation in defense against alleged foreign incursions.