The United States has intensified its pursuit of financial networks supporting the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by announcing a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the disruption of financial mechanisms linked to senior officials of the IRGC's Air Force.
The U.S. Department of State, through its "Rewards for Justice" program, stated that the reward pertains to information concerning Ahmad Jaafar Abbadi, Abdullah Mehrabi, and Ali Asghar Nourouzi, as well as financial entities, organizations, and activities associated with the IRGC Air Force. This force is responsible for developing and deploying Iran's missile and drone programs, and acquiring necessary equipment for the IRGC, making its funding sources a target in U.S. efforts to curtail its military capabilities.
The "Rewards for Justice" program highlighted a "financial pathway" connected to Iran's missiles, drones, and their resultant casualties, urging the submission of information that aids in disrupting this pathway. This action occurs amidst ongoing international pressure on Tehran regarding its missile and drone programs and military networks, coinciding with prevailing uncertainty surrounding recent U.S.-Iran negotiations.
According to an official familiar with the discussions, Iran has received the U.S. response to its proposal aimed at de-escalating tensions. This occurred after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Qatari mediators in Doha, where he received the U.S. reply concerning a seven-day trust-building plan. The official indicated that Araghchi will discuss the U.S. response in Tehran, noting that the primary disagreement centers on the sequence of steps for implementing the plan, which seeks to foster trust and revert to an enhanced version of a memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran in June.
This development follows Iran's proposal during the United Nations General Assembly meetings for a seven-day countdown to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and cease hostilities, a proposal that was subsequently rejected by U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement of the $15 million reward places the financial aspect of the IRGC under direct U.S. scrutiny, aiming to sever the channels that enable the financing, development, and procurement of missiles and drones, running parallel to the stalled diplomatic track between Washington and Tehran.
