Iranian Foreign Minister Urges UN, IAEA to Condemn US $20 Million Reward Offer Targeting Iran's Nuclear Program

Tehran - BORNA -  Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Security Council President Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, calling for the condemnation of the US State Department's abhorrent and deplorable announcement offering a reward of up to $20 million for information about Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon the United Nations Secretary-General, the Security Council and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to condemn this abhorrent announcement explicitly and unequivocally," Araghchi wrote.

He further emphasized that the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council must immediately draw the international community's attention to the serious implications of the US announcement for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Araghchi also called on them to address, within their responsibilities under the United Nations Charter, the threats posed by US actions to the safety and security of nuclear facilities, equipment and associated personnel, and to hold the United States accountable for its continuing wrongful acts.

Full Text of Araghchi's Letter

The full text of the letter, dated November 10, 2026, addressed by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to the UN Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council and the IAEA Director General concerning the US State Department's abhorrent and deplorable announcement offering a reward of up to $20 million for information about Iran's peaceful nuclear program, reads as follows:

"In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

Your Excellency,

I wish to draw your urgent attention to the recent and deeply regrettable action by the Government of the United States of America, whereby a reward of up to $20 million, together with the possibility of relocation, has been offered in exchange for information concerning Iran's nuclear program, including information related to individuals associated with the program, members of the country's scientific community, and its facilities and equipment.

This announcement, publicly issued on November 6 and 7, 2026, through the US State Department's so-called 'Rewards for Justice' program and subsequently republished by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), raises serious concerns regarding its implications for the security and integrity of the peaceful nuclear program of a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns this reckless and dangerous action in the strongest possible terms and considers it particularly alarming because it explicitly encourages the clandestine collection of information and espionage concerning nuclear facilities and materials, technical equipment, and scientists and specialists working in this field.

Such an approach risks encouraging espionage activities and the targeting of nuclear scientists and technical personnel.

Furthermore, this action raises serious concerns regarding the security of nuclear facilities and the safety of individuals engaged in peaceful nuclear activities.

The right of States to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, without discrimination and in accordance with their international obligations, is explicitly recognized under Article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

No State should seek to undermine another country's lawful peaceful nuclear activities through coercive measures, covert interference or activities that endanger the security of its nuclear facilities and scientific community.

A public solicitation of confidential information concerning the nuclear facilities, equipment and associated personnel of a sovereign State, particularly when such facilities are subject to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, raises serious questions regarding the credibility, integrity and reliability of the Agency's safeguards system.

One immediate consequence of such an alarming action by the United States is that the normal implementation of safeguards obligations cannot be expected under circumstances in which the very facilities, personnel and sensitive information upon which the safeguards system relies are exposed to assassination, sabotage and aggression.

Nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards are not outside the protection of international law, nor does their placement under safeguards in any way diminish the sovereign rights of the State concerned.

Soliciting information concerning safeguarded facilities, their structures and technical specifications, equipment, operations and associated personnel creates the risk that safeguards-related information may be misused for purposes entirely incompatible with the Agency's verification mandate.

It is essential that the IAEA safeguards system, particularly in this case, not be turned into an instrument for United States intelligence and espionage activities, thereby undermining its credibility and effectiveness.

The explicit inclusion of nuclear scientists and technical personnel among those targeted by the United States' disgraceful reward announcement is deeply alarming.

Scientists and technical specialists engaged in peaceful nuclear activities must be able to perform their professional duties without intimidation, threats, coercion or exposure to activities that endanger their lives and personal security.

The international community bears a collective responsibility to promote the safety and security of nuclear facilities and their personnel and to prevent actions that could increase the risk of sabotage, unlawful interference or deliberate incidents with potentially grave radiological and humanitarian consequences.

In light of the foregoing, the Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon the United Nations Secretary-General, the Security Council and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to condemn this abhorrent announcement explicitly and unequivocally.

The Secretary-General and the Security Council are further requested to:

Immediately draw the attention of the international community to the serious implications of the US announcement for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Address, within the framework of their responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations, the threats posed by US actions to the safety and security of nuclear facilities, equipment and associated personnel, and hold the United States accountable for its continuing wrongful acts.

Furthermore, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency is specifically requested to:

Emphasize and reaffirm the importance of preserving the confidentiality, impartiality and institutional independence of the Agency's safeguards activities.

Take all necessary measures, within the Agency's statutory authority and mandate, to ensure that safeguards-related information and knowledge obtained during the Agency's activities are neither disclosed nor misused or exploited for purposes contrary to the Agency's mandate. In this regard, particular attention must be paid to ensuring the safety and security of nuclear scientists and associated personnel.

Bring this matter to the attention of the IAEA Board of Governors and consider the necessary institutional measures to address its implications.

I would appreciate it if you would arrange for this letter to be circulated as an official document of the United Nations Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency."

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