Washington, 14 March (H.S.):
In a bold escalation of its long-standing campaign against Iran's leadership, the United States has authorized a reward of up to $10 million for actionable intelligence on Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and now Iran's freshly installed top cleric.
The announcement, issued through the State Department's Rewards for Justice program, spotlights Khamenei alongside nine other high-ranking officials tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), branding them as architects of global terrorism.The initiative targets individuals accused of orchestrating attacks on American interests, with Khamenei positioned at the apex due to his pivotal role in IRGC command structures.
These leaders direct operations that threaten lives worldwide, stated a program release on secure channels, emphasizing encrypted submissions via apps or the Tor network. Informants could also qualify for relocation support, a nod to the perilous risks faced by potential whistleblowers in Iran's tightly controlled security apparatus.
Mojtaba Khamenei's ascent follows the reported demise or sidelining of his father, thrusting him into a position of unprecedented power amid Tehran's defiant posture against Western pressure. US officials, drawing from declassified intelligence, link him to IRGC proxy militias in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon—groups implicated in strikes against US forces and allies. This bounty revives a tactic honed during decades of confrontation, echoing multimillion-dollar payouts for tips on figures like Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
IRGC: The Economic and Terror Backbone of Khamenei's Regime
Founded in the chaotic aftermath of Iran's 1979 Revolution, the IRGC has morphed from a praetorian guard into a sprawling empire dominating Tehran's economy and foreign adventurism. Designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US in 2019, it controls vast sectors from oil smuggling to construction, wielding influence that dwarfs conventional armed forces. Transactions with US persons are banned, and material support constitutes a federal crime.
Khamenei's inner circle, per the reward list, includes Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, Deputy Chief of Staff Ali Asghar Hejazi, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, and Supreme National Security Council head Ali Larijani. These names surface in US indictments for plots ranging from assassinations in Europe to cyberattacks and regional bombings.
The IRGC isn't just a military; it's a terrorist conglomerate with Khamenei's fingerprints, noted a senior State Department official, speaking anonymously to align with diplomatic norms.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
