US offers $20M for Iran nuclear intel despite Trump's 'obliterated' claims
US Central Command announced Friday a reward of up to $20 million plus possible relocation for any Iranian providing actionable intelligence on Iran's nuclear programme — facilities, equipment, and personnel. The offer runs through the State Department's Rewards for Justice programme.
This comes despite President Trump's repeated claims since June 2025 that US strikes "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's key enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. A leaked Pentagon assessment contradicts this: strikes only sealed facility entrances without collapsing underground structures, and much enriched uranium had been moved beforehand.
CENTCOM notes Iran's uranium stockpile now includes material enriched to 60% purity — a short technical step from the 90% weapons-grade threshold. Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state producing uranium at this level, with experts estimating current quantities could fuel several nuclear weapons if further enriched. Meanwhile, Trump confirmed recent "minor strikes" in Iran, including on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iranian media report downing US drones.
For Nigeria, escalating US-Iran tensions directly threaten global oil supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Any disruption could spike crude prices, impacting government revenue and domestic fuel costs. The IAEA has already lost "continuity of knowledge" on Iran's centrifuge production and inventory.
With Iran near weapons-grade capability and US intelligence offering bounties, how should Nigeria's energy planners and policymakers hedge against potential oil market volatility?