US Offers $10 Million Rewards for Five Senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commanders

The United States announced on Tuesday a reward of up to $10 million for information on five senior commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the State Department's "Rewards for Justice" program. The targeted commanders lead critical IRGC units in intelligence, cyber warfare, and drone operations, which Washington holds responsible for hostile actions against US interests.

The five commanders named are Ahmad Vahidi, IRGC commander; Ali Abdollahi, head of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters; Saeed Aghajani, commander of the IRGC Air Force drone unit; Hamidreza Lashgariyan, head of cyber and electronic command; and Majid Hadami, commander of IRGC intelligence. The US accuses these figures of orchestrating military and cyber attacks against American personnel and facilities, including incidents causing US civilian casualties.

The US also offers protection and relocation to informants and their families, signaling an effort to encourage defections or intelligence sharing from within Iran or close to these commanders. The IRGC, including its Quds Force, has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US since 2019, with prior sanctions blocking its assets and prohibiting American dealings.

This announcement coincides with intensified US pressure on Tehran, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's recent "economic ostracism" campaign aimed at severing the regime's financial resources. Mnuchin directly addressed Iranian soldiers, urging them to question their leaders' direction amid halted salaries, referencing the fall of the Berlin Wall as an example of soldiers refusing to fire on their own people.

By offering substantial monetary rewards, the US adds a personal dimension to its strategy, seeking to disrupt the IRGC's command structure while continuing to choke off its funding and operational capabilities.