Iran’s Economy in Doldrums as Army Commander Offers $30,000 Bounty for per US Troops

TEHRAN, Aug 16: Iran’s army commander-in-chief said Sunday that any Iranian who captures or kills a US service member would receive a $30,000 reward, as President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that the country’s economic problems have worsened amid falling oil revenues and extensive damage to industrial facilities.

Amir Hatami said the bounty would be provided by “the Iranian people,” without giving further details on how the payments would be administered.

Iranian officials have previously promoted rewards for attacks against US President Donald Trump. On May 15, senior lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi said a proposed parliamentary measure included a €50 million reward for Trump’s killing.

Earlier, Pezeshkian said Iran’s financial difficulties had intensified since the start of the war with the United States and Israel, citing declining oil sales, reduced state revenues and the destruction of factories.

“Our revenues have declined. We used to sell oil, but now we cannot sell it,” Pezeshkian said in remarks carried by Iranian media.

He said the destruction of industrial facilities had also reduced tax revenues, leaving the government facing the additional burden of providing financial support to damaged factories so they could continue operating.

Pezeshkian also blamed rising prices on increased costs and disruptions to trade routes, saying imported goods now enter Iran through more expensive alternative channels.

“Our problems have multiplied many times over, while our revenues have also declined,” he said.

The comments come amid continued tensions between Iran and the United States and Israel. The conflict escalated on February 28 when Israel and the United States launched coordinated attacks on Iranian military, nuclear and energy infrastructure, prompting Tehran to respond with missile and drone attacks against Israeli and US targets across the region.

A June 18 memorandum of understanding reached through Pakistani and Qatari mediation brought an end to active hostilities and opened negotiations toward a broader agreement. However, the talks later stalled over disputes including maritime security and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for Gulf oil and gas exports.

The combination of renewed military threats and worsening economic pressures underscores the challenges facing Tehran as tensions with Washington remain unresolved.