Iran Army Chief Warns U.S. to Leave Persian Gulf

Iran’s army commander said the era of American military presence in the Persian Gulf is over and announced a cash reward for anyone who kills or captures an aggressor US soldier and turns them over to authorities. Major General Amir Hatami said the initiative is being supported by public donations for defense needs, and that the reward would be doubled for women who carry it out. He also said the weapon used would be bought by the army at twice its market price and placed in a museum.

Under this plan, any individual who kills or captures a US soldier and hands them over to authorities will receive a reward of approximately $30,000.

Hatami said Iran is rapidly rebuilding its defensive and offensive capabilities and claimed new capacities were already shown in recent clashes with American forces around the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that enemies had underestimated Iran’s strength and said the country faces no limits in defending its sovereignty. He also linked the changes to a new military and security reorganization ordered by the country’s leadership, describing it as a sign that any regional escalation would only harden Iran’s position.

He portrayed the Strait of Hormuz as a permanent strategic advantage for Iran and said it would never return to its former status. Responding to remarks by the US president, Hatami said even joking about controlling the waterway was a serious mistake.

The army chief also claimed Iranian forces had struck the USS Abraham Lincoln and temporarily grounded its fighter jets. He cited reports of poor conditions aboard the carrier to argue that the vessel’s long deployment reflected the pressure of the conflict.