US Places $10 Million Bounty On New Supreme Leader, Fresh Strikes Hit Natanz And Tehran – OpEd

Following yesterday’s massive wave of strikes on over 200 regime targets, the confirmed deaths of top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, and sweeping domestic arrests amid a 480-hour nationwide internet blackout, the conflict between the United States, Israel, and the Iranian regime has entered its 22nd day on March 21, 2026.

The war, which began on February 28, continues to escalate with fresh US and Israeli strikes hitting multiple Iranian cities and the Natanz nuclear facility in the early hours of Saturday morning. Concurrently, the Trump administration has placed a $10 million bounty on Mojtaba Khamenei, the regime’s newly appointed supreme leader, and other key regime officials.

As the Iranian regime attempts to retaliate by launching long-range missiles at a remote US-UK base and threatening the United Arab Emirates, the US is temporarily easing sanctions on stranded Iranian oil to stabilize global energy markets while outlining strict demands for potential peace talks.

Roundup of today’s key events

• Fresh joint US-Israeli strikes targeted Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and the Natanz nuclear facility in the early hours of March 21.
• The US State Department placed a $10 million bounty on new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei and nine other key IRGC and regime leaders.
• US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that 8,000 regime targets and 130 Iranian naval vessels have been struck since the war began on February 28.
• Iran’s regime fired two intermediate-range missiles at the remote joint US-UK base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, though both failed to hit the target.
• The IRGC threatened to attack the UAE city of Ras al-Khaimah, ordering its residents to evacuate immediately.
• The US Treasury Department announced a temporary easing of sanctions on Iranian oil stranded at sea to help relieve surging global energy prices.
• The Trump administration is preparing stringent demands for potential peace talks, though President Trump rejected the possibility of an immediate ceasefire.
• A pro-regime militia claimed responsibility for three drone strikes that caused a massive fire at a US diplomatic center near the Baghdad airport.

US places $10 million bounty on new supreme leader and IRGC commanders

The Trump administration has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, as well as nine other top officials. The US State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program issued wanted posters in both English and Farsi, targeting key leaders within the IRGC who “plan, organize and execute terrorism around the world.”

Among the individuals named are Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Minister of Intelligence and Security Esmail Khatib, Military Adviser Yahya Rahim Safavi, Deputy Chief of Staff Ali Asghar Hejazi, and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Lanjani. Four other leaders were listed only by their titles.

During a Pentagon briefing yesterday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the regime’s leadership is “desperate and hiding,” adding, “We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured.” Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the role after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a bombing on February 28 at the onset of the war.

Fresh strikes target Tehran, Natanz nuclear facility, and other cities

In the early hours of March 21, the US and Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes targeting the capital Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and several other cities. Videos circulated on social media showing what are believed to be Tomahawk cruise missiles flying over southern Tehran’s Behesht-Zahra area, heading east. Around 10:28 AM, another video captured six to seven missiles flying over Tehran, followed by reports of an explosion near an Air Force facility on Piroozi Street.

Additionally, the Iranian regime’s Atomic Energy Organization confirmed that the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, known as the “Ahmadi Roshan complex,” was struck again early Saturday morning. The agency claimed there were no radiation leaks and that surrounding residents were not in danger. This marks at least the second time the Natanz facility has been targeted in the current 22-day war, following a previous bombing by US B-2 Spirit bombers on June 22 of last year during the 12-day war.

CENTCOM reports 8,000 targets hit as Iranian navy is crippled

US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper announced Saturday that the Pentagon has struck more than 8,000 targets since the war started. Cooper stated that the campaign has successfully degraded the regime’s combat capabilities, particularly its naval forces and missile sites.

“Their navy is not sailing, their tactical fighters are not flying, and they’ve lost the ability to launch missiles and drones at the high rates seen at the beginning of the conflict,” Cooper said, noting that 130 Iranian vessels have been destroyed in what he called the “largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War II.”

The Pentagon confirmed that 13 US servicemembers have been killed and approximately 232 others wounded since February 28.

Iran’s regime attacks remote US-UK base and threatens UAE

The Iranian regime fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, located more than 2,000 miles from Tehran. The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed the strike was unsuccessful; one missile was reportedly shot down by a US warship, and the other failed in flight. The attack follows the UK’s recent decision to allow the US military to use its bases to conduct defensive operations to protect shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the IRGC announced a new wave of missile attacks against Israel and issued a stark threat to the United Arab Emirates. The IRGC claimed it would soon target the UAE city of Ras al-Khaimah, ordering all residents to quickly evacuate to safer areas. The IRGC alleged the city has been used for “operations targeting Iranian islands.”

In neighboring Iraq, a massive fire broke out at a US diplomatic center near the Baghdad airport on Saturday. The pro-regime militia Ashab al-Kahf claimed responsibility for the incident, which occurred following three successive drone strikes.

US temporarily eases oil sanctions amid peace talk preparations

As the war blocks roughly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the US has moved to temporarily ease sanctions on Iranian oil to counter skyrocketing energy prices. US crude oil has soared more than 70% this year. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Friday that the “narrowly tailored” move will permit the sale of approximately 140 million barrels of Iranian oil currently stranded at sea. At current prices, this could generate over $14 billion for Tehran.

Simultaneously, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the Iranian regime to end its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, offering UN assistance to secure the waterway.

Despite expectations of two to three more weeks of active fighting, the Trump administration has begun laying the groundwork for potential diplomacy. Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are involved in the preparations. According to reports, the US is demanding six key commitments from the regime, including a five-year halt on missile programs, zero uranium enrichment, decommissioning of the Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow nuclear facilities, a cap on its missile arsenal at 1,000, and an end to financing proxy groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis.

The Iranian regime, passing messages through Egypt and Qatar, is demanding a ceasefire, guarantees against future attacks, and “compensation” or reparations—a demand Trump views as a non-starter. US officials are currently trying to identify who in Tehran holds actual decision-making power, viewing Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi merely as a “fax machine.”