$10 Million Bounty: U.S. Targets Iran’s New Supreme Leader And IRGC Command

WASHINGTON / TEHRAN — On Friday, March 13, 2026, the U.S. State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program announced a staggering $10 million (₹92.6 crore) bounty for information leading to the location or identification of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and several high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The move comes amid intense speculation regarding the stability of the Iranian regime following the death of Ali Khamenei in the opening salvos of the conflict on February 28.

1. The Bounty List: Targeting the “Nerve Center”

The U.S. is seeking information on 10 specific individuals it accuses of directing global terrorism and regional destabilization.

• The Prime Target: Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father just days ago. He is currently labeled a “terrorist leader” by the State Department.
• Senior Officials Named: * Ali Larijani: National Security Chief and former Parliament Speaker.
  • Asgar Hejazi: Chief Secretary of the Supreme Leader’s Office.
  • Esmail Khatib: Minister of Intelligence.
  • Eskandar Momeni: Interior Minister.
  • Yahya Rahim Safavi: Senior Military Advisor.
• Unnamed Targets: The list includes four additional roles without public names or photos, including the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC and the Secretary of the National Defense Committee.

2. “Wounded and Disfigured”: The Health of Mojtaba Khamenei

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a blunt assessment of the new leader’s condition during a Pentagon briefing on Friday.

• Speculation on Injuries: Hegseth claimed Mojtaba Khamenei is “wounded and likely disfigured,” citing his refusal to appear on camera or provide a voice recording.
• The First Statement: Khamenei’s first official message since taking power was a written statement read by a TV presenter on Thursday. In it, he vowed to maintain the Strait of Hormuz blockade and threatened U.S. bases in neighboring countries.
• Iranian Rebuttal: Tehran has acknowledged the leader was “war-wounded” during the initial strikes but insists his injuries are minor and do not impair his ability to govern.

3. Defiance in Tehran: Larijani Appears in Public

Despite Hegseth’s claims that the Iranian leadership is “cowering underground,” several top officials made high-profile appearances at the Quds Day rally in Tehran on Friday.

• Larijani’s Stand: Ali Larijani was seen marching alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian, dismissing the U.S.-Israeli strikes as acts of “desperation.”
• Public Sentiment: Crowds in Tehran were seen carrying posters of both the late Ali Khamenei and his son, Mojtaba, even as the U.S. bounty was publicized.

U.S. Wanted List: Senior Iranian Leadership (March 2026)