VIENNA, – Iran has condemned a US government offer of up to $20 million for information about its nuclear programme, warning that individuals and organisations providing intelligence that facilitates attacks could face legal consequences.
Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna issued the warning in a post on X on Saturday, describing the US Rewards for Justice initiative as an attempt to recruit accomplices for criminal acts, assassinations and further attacks against Iran.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the reward on November 7 through the State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme. The offer includes up to $20 million and possible relocation assistance for information about Iran’s nuclear facilities, equipment, associated personnel, including nuclear scientists, and their movements.
In response, the Iranian mission cited previous sabotage operations against its nuclear facilities and the killings of Iranian nuclear scientists. It warned that any government, state agency, non-state actor or international organisation, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), providing information that facilitates such attacks could face international legal responsibility. Individuals knowingly assisting these activities, directly or indirectly, could also face individual criminal liability.
“A bounty neither erases complicity nor brings immunity. ACCOUNTABILITY will follow,” the Iranian mission stated. It also published a graphic identifying 18 Iranian scientists whom Tehran says were killed in US-Israeli attacks or related operations. The statement concluded: “Our martyred scientists are our witnesses.”
US Cites Concerns Over Iran's Nuclear Programme
The US reward offer comes amid continued concerns over Iran's nuclear activities and its cooperation with the IAEA. The Rewards for Justice programme, established in 1984, provides financial incentives for information supporting US national security interests.
According to the US State Department, Iran's lack of compliance with IAEA safeguards obligations has affected the agency's ability to maintain continuity of knowledge about the country's production and inventory of key nuclear components, including centrifuges.
The US announcement also referred to 2025 IAEA reporting that Iran was enriching uranium to 60% purity. This is significantly above the enrichment level typically required for civilian nuclear power and closer to the approximately 90% level associated with weapons-grade uranium. Iran is currently the only non-nuclear-weapon state producing uranium at this enrichment level, according to the US notice.
The maximum reward amount applies to information sought by the programme, although the announcement does not specify the exact criteria for receiving the full payment.
The latest exchange adds to tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear infrastructure. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that American military operations severely damaged or destroyed Iran's nuclear programme.
Despite the confrontation, diplomatic efforts continue. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated that his government remains interested in resolving the crisis through dialogue, while regional mediators are seeking a compromise to prevent further escalation.
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