Iran says its military is 'stronger' than before war, as US offers $20m reward for nuclear info

Iran’s military claims it has become stronger since the conflict began. The claim matters because it signals that Tehran believes combat experience has improved its readiness, motivation, and confidence, despite the reported damage to Iran’s economy and military. It also sends a warning while mediators try to prevent fighting from restarting.

Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said the forces had gained experience from direct confrontation with the United States and Israel. He said they were now on higher alert and possessed greater motivation, commitment, and self-confidence. He added that, under the Supreme Leader’s order, any response would be immediate, effective, and without geographical limits.

These are Iranian claims reported by state news agency IRNA, not an independent assessment of military capability. Their practical importance is that they may reinforce deterrence, support Iran’s position in negotiations, and signal that Tehran will respond quickly to perceived threats. The statement came as tensions continued around the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear negotiations.

The United States is seeking intelligence that could clarify Iran’s nuclear program. The offer matters because Washington says Iran’s failure to comply with International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards has created gaps in knowledge about important nuclear components. Better information could help identify facilities, equipment, people, and nuclear-related activities.

The Rewards for Justice program is seeking information about facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, including members of Iran’s scientific community. US Central Command announced a US$20 million reward, described in the article as $28.6 million, plus possible relocation. The State Department did not explain what specific information would earn the full amount.

The offer therefore covers a broad range of intelligence rather than one publicly defined target. It could involve locating sites, identifying equipment, or identifying people connected with the program. The announcement comes while the United States and Iran remain in conflict and while officials discuss possible efforts to end the war. It also reflects concern about reduced monitoring visibility.

A nuclear program is a country’s organized effort to develop, operate, and monitor nuclear facilities, technologies, materials, and expertise. It can include civilian research and energy work, as well as activities that raise security concerns. The article focuses on Iran’s facilities, equipment, associated personnel, centrifuges, and inventories of key components. It does not provide a full description of Iran’s program.

Facilities are the locations where nuclear work occurs. Centrifuges are machines used to process uranium, making their number and condition important indicators of nuclear capability. Scientists and other personnel provide the technical knowledge needed to operate and develop the program. Nuclear materials and components must be tracked because their production and inventory help inspectors understand what exists and where it is.

The United States is offering up to US$20 million for information about these areas. The International Atomic Energy Agency says it lost “continuity of knowledge” about some components after Iran’s safeguards noncompliance. That gap makes independent monitoring and assessment more difficult.

“Continuity of knowledge” is the ability of nuclear inspectors to maintain an unbroken, reliable record of what nuclear materials and equipment exist, where they are, and how they change. It matters because safeguards depend on comparing current observations with earlier records. Without that chain, inspectors may struggle to confirm whether declared inventories remain complete and accurate.

The article links the loss of continuity to Iran’s lack of compliance with IAEA safeguards obligations. It specifically mentions production and inventories of key components, including centrifuges. If monitoring information is missing, inspectors may have less certainty about when components were produced, where they moved, or whether the reported totals match reality.

This does not by itself prove that material was diverted or that a particular activity occurred. It means the verification picture has become less complete. The United States is using that concern to seek new information about facilities, equipment, and personnel. Restoring reliable records would make future assessments more confident and precise.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for international oil shipments. If Iran keeps restricting traffic, tankers may face delays, rerouting, or greater security risks. That could reduce the amount of oil reaching markets at a time when buyers depend on regular deliveries. The possible effect matters far beyond the region because the waterway normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption.

The article says Iran has sought to limit traffic and claims it controls the strategic waterway. Mohammad Akraminia said the strait would remain closed until the United States met Iran’s demands. Any prolonged closure or severe restriction could make transport more difficult and reduce near-term supply available through the route.

As a general market effect, tighter supply and greater uncertainty can raise oil prices, though the article does not provide a forecast. The eventual impact would depend on how long restrictions lasted, whether alternative routes were available, and whether fighting resumed. Mediators are working to prevent that outcome and stop the conflict from escalating.

The Strait of Hormuz is strategically important because it is a narrow maritime route used by a very large share of the world’s oil shipments. The article says it normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption. Control over such a route can affect energy security, shipping decisions, and the wider economic consequences of a regional conflict.

Iran has sought to limit traffic through the strait and says it retains control of the waterway. Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said it would remain closed until the United States met Iran’s demands. The mechanism is direct: restricting passage can delay or prevent oil shipments, while control of the route gives Iran a major bargaining tool.

The strait’s importance raises the stakes of any military incident around it. A closure or prolonged restriction could create supply uncertainty and increase pressure on governments and markets. At the same time, mediators are working to prevent a resumption of fighting. The article does not say whether the restrictions will end or how long they may continue.

States often protect security through three connected tools: verification, deterrence, and control of critical routes. Nuclear safeguards are meant to create reliable knowledge about sensitive materials and equipment. Military deterrence seeks to prevent attacks by showing that aggression will bring serious costs. Control of an energy route can create economic and political leverage during a crisis.

The article presents examples of each tool. The IAEA’s safeguards concern whether Iran’s centrifuges and other components can be tracked accurately. Iran’s army says its forces are more alert and stronger, promising an immediate response to threats. Tehran also says it controls the Strait of Hormuz, a route carrying about one-fifth of global oil consumption, and can keep it closed until demands are met.

Together, these measures shape negotiations as well as battlefield calculations. Monitoring gaps increase uncertainty. Military warnings raise the cost of attacks. Restrictions on Hormuz raise the cost of escalation for energy markets and other states. The article shows these pressures operating while mediators seek to prevent renewed fighting.