US offers up to $20 million for Iran nuclear program tips as Iranian official boasts nuclear capability

The U.S. State Department program “Rewards for Justice” offered up to $20 million for information related to Iran’s nuclear program, the program announced and posted images in Persian and English on X and its website requesting details on personnel, scientists, specialties, assets, workplaces, associated organizations and technical information. The announcement reiterated the United States’ commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons; the story attributes that emphasis to the Rewards for Justice message and notes that U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly made the same point. Trump also posted on Truth Social, writing that “if I had not prevented Iran from getting the nuclear bomb, today there would be no Israel and not even a Middle East,” a quote reported by Radio Farda (Telegram).

Separately, Mohammad-Javad Larijani, head of the Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies and brother of Ali Larijani, said Iran could build a nuclear weapon “as easily as drinking water” and described the country’s nuclear knowledge as beyond that stage. Larijani said, “If the supreme leader allows, we will build a lot for him; if he does not allow, we will follow orders.” He added that Iran’s enemies should know that, in his words, building such a weapon is “as easy as drinking water.” The piece notes Larijani previously responded to statements by Donald Trump about Iran’s ability to build advanced weapons and opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear arms, saying Iran does not need U.S. permission to build weapons, and that he has previously called building an atomic bomb for Iran a “toy.” (Sources: Independent Persian; Radio Farda (Telegram)).

Initial synthesis; final edit pending