Despite Trump's claim to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program, America offers $20 million for information about it

The United States is offering a reward of up to $20 million in exchange for information about the Iranian nuclear program, despite US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he has completely eliminated Tehran’s capabilities in this field.

Rewards for Justice, a program affiliated with the US State Department, said in a social media post on Friday that it seeks information about Iranian nuclear facilities, equipment and personnel associated with them, indicating the possibility of providing the option of transportation (to a safe location) for informants.

During the 12-day conflict last year, Trump was quick to declare that Iran's main nuclear facilities dedicated to uranium enrichment had been "completely and irrevocably destroyed." He has stuck to this assessment on several subsequent occasions, attacking media organizations - including CNN - for questioning the veracity of the claim.

In the context of the conflict that the region witnessed this year, the United States and Israel once again launched attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Trump renewed his claims that he had succeeded in confronting the Iranian threat, as he told reporters on Friday: “If we had not struck Iran, Israel would not exist today.”

However, the US State Department's move, along with independent assessments, indicate continued concerns about the Iranian program, which Tehran has always maintained is of a peaceful nature.

Last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran was enriching uranium to a purity of up to 60%, which, according to a statement issued by the RFG organization, “represents a short technical step towards reaching the 90% required to make a nuclear weapon.”

“Iran is the only country that does not possess nuclear weapons and produces uranium with such a high level of enrichment,” the statement said. Experts estimate that this quantity, if further enriched, may be sufficient to produce several nuclear weapons.”

The statement also noted a “loss of continuity of knowledge” regarding Iran’s production and stock of key components, such as centrifuges; This is due to the Iranian regime’s non-compliance with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon is a major goal declared by Washington in the context of its war with Iran. This week, President Donald Trump repeated statements indicating that the United States “may have to target” the Ax Mountain site in Iran; It is a nuclear site suspected of being an underground facility, where Israel believes that Tehran stores part of its stock of enriched uranium and advanced centrifuges dedicated to enrichment.

On the other hand, Iran warned that any American attack on its nuclear facilities would be considered an expansion of the scope of the war in the region. Tehran asserts that it has the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, including enrichment operations.

The "Rewards for Justice" program has also allocated financial rewards to anyone who provides information about prominent figures in the Iranian regime, since the outbreak of the war last February.

The mediators continue their efforts to reach an agreement between Iran and the United States, but it appears that both parties are not ready to back down from their main red lines. Tehran considers the ability to enrich uranium a matter of national sovereignty.

Trump ordered new strikes on Iran overnight, calling them "minor."

Reuters reported on Saturday, citing Iranian media, that explosions were heard on the Iranian island of Qeshm and in the port of Jask, located in southern Iran.

According to Reuters, Iran has not officially confirmed the source of the reported explosions. Earlier, Saturday, the semi-official Iranian Tasnim news agency reported that two missiles targeted Qeshm Island, without official information being received about any damage. But the agency returned later in the evening to quote an Iranian source as saying that the explosions heard on the island were not caused by missile strikes.

In a separate development, US Central Command has formed a task force with the aim of preventing Iran from accessing land routes that may be used to facilitate the transfer of advanced weapons and other materials.

A naval blockade has already been imposed, as part of US efforts to strangle Iran's vital oil sector.