The tension between Iran and the United States escalated even further this Sunday following the announcement by the Iranian army about the reward of 30 thousand dollars that will be given to any Iranian citizen who kills or captures and hands over a U.S. soldier.
Read more South Korean President calls on the North to negotiate a formal end to the Korean War
The Chief of Staff, Amir Hatami, stated that this plan arose due to the “large number of requests” to participate in financial support.
“If an Iranian citizen kills or captures and hands over an invading U.S. soldier, they will receive from the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran a reward equivalent to 30,000 dollars,” Hatami affirmed.
The military added that if a woman carries out such an action, “she will receive double this reward”, money that will come from voluntary donations from people who wish to financially contribute to the war against Israel and the United States.
Hatami did not provide further details about the capture plan, nor the possible execution of U.S. soldiers.
Almost six months after the start of the conflict, the only deployment of U.S. ground forces in Iran was within the framework of a rescue mission in April to save the life of a downed U.S. pilot.
Read more Palestinian teenager is killed during Israeli attacks in southern Gaza
The announcement of the reward is set against growing tension between Tehran and Washington after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory “after defeating Iran.”
In response, Tehran rejected those statements and asserted that the Strait of Hormuz “cannot be taken by force, by a tweet, an aircraft carrier, an order, or an electoral speech.”
In that sense, the head of the Iranian Army reiterated that Tehran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz is one of the conditions to end the war.
Meanwhile, Iran has kept the maritime route closed since mid-July, following new U.S. bombings against the southern Iranian territory.
Read more 19-year-old arrested for shooting that left five injured at Virginia State University
