فارسی | العربي | English

kayhan.ir

News ID: 152775
Publish Date : 16 August 2026 - 23:02
A A
HOME PAGE » News
Says USS Abraham Lincoln Struck At Least Once

Army Chief: $30,000 Reward for Any American Soldier Captured or Killed

TEHRAN -- Iran’s Army 
Commander-in-Chief Major General Amir Hatami on Sunday announced a financial reward for anyone who kills or captures U.S. military personnel, declaring that the era of American military presence in the Persian Gulf is permanently finished.
Speaking at a National Journalist Day ceremony, General Hatami revealed a new initiative backed by public crowdfunding campaigns in which Iranian citizens have donated money to support defense operations. 
Under the plan, any individual who kills or captures a U.S. soldier and hands them over to authorities will receive a reward of 5 billion tomans—approximately $30,000. 
Hatami added that Iranian women who accomplish this feat will receive double the reward. Additionally, the weapon used in such an operation will be purchased by the Army at twice its market value and permanently displayed in a dedicated museum.
General Hatami emphasized that Iran’s defensive and offensive capabilities are being rapidly rebuilt and expanded, with new capacities already demonstrated during recent clashes with American forces over the Strait of Hormuz. 
He warned that enemies have fundamentally miscalculated Iran’s military strength and must not repeat past errors, as Iran faces no limitations in defending its sovereignty.
The Army chief highlighted a sweeping series of strategic appointments recently decreed by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, which includes the promotion and reassignment of six top military and security commanders across the armed forces.
Hatami signaled that any regional military escalation will only make Iran more resolute.
Addressing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the Army chief described the waterway as a “divine geopolitical capacity” for the Iranian nation, asserting that it will never return to its previous status. He mocked recent remarks by the U.S. president, who joked about declaring the Strait part of American territory.
“You are very wrong! Even joking about this is a massive mistake,” Hatami stated. 
“This is Iran, and it has guardians who will break your leg.” He affirmed that activating this geopolitical leverage was a necessary step to lift the shadow of war from Iran, and the country will protect it with all its might.
General Hatami announced that Iranian forces have successfully struck the U.S. aircraft carrier USS

 Abraham Lincoln at least once, temporarily grounding its fighter jets. 
While acknowledging that Washington denies the damage, he insisted the carrier is now in retreat amid unprecedented chaos and a severe mental health crisis among its crew. 
The carrier has been deployed to the region for an extended period exceeding 250 days as part of the war against Iran. Recent disclosures by U.S. Democratic senators have highlighted deteriorating conditions aboard, including moldy facilities, rationed meals, and multiple reported suicide attempts among the crew.
General Hatami ridiculed the U.S. president as a “delusional loser,” citing Western media reports that the president hid in a food truck out of fear and abandoned staff on a plane deemed to be facing a possible threat by the Secret Service during a recent visit to Turkey.
Highlighting the strategic impact of recent Iranian missile and drone strikes on U.S. installations, particularly in Jordan, Hatami emphasized that these operations delivered an unambiguous message that Iran’s reach is entirely unrestricted. 
He asserted that the Iranian military’s ability to target aggressors is not only absolute but will continue to expand through tactical creativity and operational innovation.
“If the enemy attempts a ground operation, not a single one should escape alive,” Hatami warned, issuing a stark deterrent to potential aggressors.
Furthermore, the commander underscored Iran’s proven technical superiority in neutralizing advanced air defense networks, noting that the Zionist regime has already witnessed Iranian munitions successfully breach its multi-layered defense shields. 
He stated that the expulsion of American forces from the region is now an accomplished reality, and they no longer have permission to enter the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, or the Strait of Hormuz.
“The only way forward is the complete exit of Americans from the region,” Hatami asserted. “We have won on this path, and we are now consolidating this victory.” 
He added that both the U.S. and the Zionist regime are now in their most detested and isolated positions globally, as nations realize they can no longer rely on Washington for their security.
 
share to
captcha
Most Discussed Most Viewed