The United States has announced a reward of up to $20 million for information about Iran's nuclear programme, with the State Department also offering to potentially relocate the person who provides such details.
The reward, issued through the department's Rewards for Justice initiative, covers information on the Iranian programme including "facilities, equipment and associated personnel". A State Department statement said Iran's lack of compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency on safeguards obligations had led to the agency's loss of "continuity of knowledge" regarding Tehran's production and inventory of key components such as nuclear centrifuges.
Centrifuges are used to produce enriched uranium, which can serve as reactor fuel for civilian purposes but can also be used for nuclear weapons if enriched to around 90% purity or higher. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful and that it has no intention of developing a nuclear weapon.
President Donald Trump claimed last year that Iran's nuclear facilities had been "completely and totally obliterated" following a bombing campaign carried out by the US and Israel.
Alongside the reward, the US military said it was setting up a task force to strengthen Washington's efforts to restrict Iran's movement of weapons and sanctioned material across its borders. US Central Command said Task Force Iron Gate would operate from Tampa, Florida, and work with other US government agencies. Beyond weapons movements, it will also focus on dual-use and illegal revenue streams. Centcom estimates that its naval blockade of Iran's ports has prevented the country from exporting more than $25bn in crude oil.
The announcements come amid mounting speculation that the US might resume significant strikes in Iran following the midterm elections, although Trump told reporters before the polls that he was in "no rush" to do so. In an interview with Fox News on the eve of the midterms, the president said the US "might need to go after Pickaxe [Mountain]", an underground site linked to Iran's nuclear programme, adding that it was "not a big deal" and could be done in "one hour". He has repeatedly threatened to bomb the suspected site in the past.
However, both Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have said public opposition to the war on Iran fuelled heavy losses for their Republican Party in this week's midterm elections, prompting speculation that the White House may no longer seek an escalation in the conflict.
On Friday, Trump insisted that Iran was keen to end the eight-month conflict with the US, pointing to the damage to Tehran's economy and military. "We're dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly," he said.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that both sides were "reviewing the ideas and proposals we have presented" and that Doha remained hopeful a deal could be agreed. Iranian negotiators have discussed with mediators a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days once the US met its seven conditions. The two countries reached a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the strait in June, but it collapsed within weeks after Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade.
