IRGC QUDS Force slain commander Qasem Soleimani with other top commanders. Undated
The US government’s Rewards for Justice program has offered up to $15 million for information that can disrupt Iran’s IRGC and its Quds Force financial networks.
The program announced the reward on Sunday [June 12] in a tweet emphasizing that “IRGC-QF conducts its terrorist activities around the globe via proxies, and uses various financial means to bypass U.S. sanctions. Have relevant info? SEND US A TIP!”
The announcement can be seen additional pressure on the Islamic Republic as it continues to support militant groups across the Middle East and beyond, after negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the HCPOA came to a halt in March.
Reports indicated that Tehran insisted on removing the IRGC from the US list of Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). President Joe Biden’s administration has so far not accepted the Iranian demand, as dozens of American lawmakers have also told the White House not to make such concessions.
The Quds Force is a branch of the Revolutionary Guard that conducts operations beyond Iran’s borders. Its long-time commander and the architect of its expansion, Qasem Soleimani, was killed by a US drone attack in Iraq in January 2020. Top Iranian officials have vowed revenge, with reported threats against former Trump officials, such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.