By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The United States government has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in a dramatic escalation of tensions amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
On Friday, March 13, 2026, the U.S. State Department made the announcement through its “Rewards for Justice” programme, offering financial incentives and possible relocation to individuals who provide credible intelligence about Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to U.S. officials, the targeted figures are suspected of planning and coordinating international terrorist activities through networks connected to the IRGC, which Washington has designated as a foreign terrorist organisation.
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed Iran’s top leadership role in March 2026 after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in joint U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026, during the escalating regional war.
Reports indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei himself may have been injured during the attacks and has rarely appeared publicly, issuing only written statements since the strikes.
Security analysts say the bounty reflects Washington’s effort to increase pressure on Iran’s leadership structure, while critics warn that such moves could further intensify geopolitical tensions and destabilise the already volatile Middle East region.
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