US offers $20m reward for information about Iran's nuclear programme — SkimNews
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- State Department announced that Rewards for Justice is offering up to $20 million for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, including facilities, equipment and associated personnel, and is also offering to relocate the person providing details.
- Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful and has no intention of developing a nuclear weapon, while the State Department says Iran’s non-compliance with IAEA safeguards has cost the agency its “continuity of knowledge” of key components such as centrifuges.
- Centcom is setting up Task Force Iron Gate in Tampa, Florida, to work with other US government agencies on restricting Iran’s movement of weapons and sanctioned material, with a focus on dual-use items and illegal revenue streams.
- Centcom estimates that the US naval blockade of Iran’s ports has prevented the country from exporting more than $25bn in crude oil.
- Trump claimed last year that Iran’s nuclear facilities were “completely and totally obliterated”; before the midterms, he said he might need to go after Pickaxe Mountain, that it could be done in “one hour” and that he was in “no rush” to resume significant strikes.
- Trump and Vice-President JD Vance said public opposition to the war on Iran fuelled heavy losses for their Republican Party in the midterms.
- Qatar said the US and Iran are reviewing proposals and that it remains hopeful of a deal; Iranian negotiators discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the US met seven conditions, after a preliminary June agreement collapsed when Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade.
Why it matters: For Iran, the material squeeze now combines a $20 million information bounty with a new maritime-enforcement task force, even after Trump and Vance said opposition to the war fuelled Republican midterm losses. Centcom estimates the blockade has prevented more than $25 billion in crude exports, while the proposed Hormuz reopening is tied to seven US conditions.
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