US Offers $20 Million Reward for Information on Iran’s Nuclear Programme, Sanctions 8 Canadian Financial Firms

Washington, D۔C. (Terror Monitor) — The United States has announced a reward of up to $20 million, along with possible relocation, for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, while separately imposing sanctions on eight Canada-based financial services businesses accused of helping Tehran evade US restrictions through cryptocurrency and digital asset transactions.

The two measures, announced by the US Department of State and Department of the Treasury on Friday, November 6, reflect Washington’s expanding efforts to restrict Iran’s nuclear activities and disrupt financial networks that it alleges are being used by the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US offers up to $20 million for nuclear programme information

The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme announced that it was offering up to $20 million for information concerning Iran’s nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment and associated personnel.

The offer also covers information about Iranian scientists and other individuals involved in the programme, as well as the movement of nuclear-related equipment and personnel.

According to the programme’s official announcement, individuals providing qualifying information may also be eligible for relocation.

The US government said the initiative was intended to protect American national security and interests by obtaining information that could help identify and monitor Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The announcement cited a 2025 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which reported that Iran had enriched uranium to 60 per cent purity, significantly above the enrichment level generally required for civilian nuclear power generation.

The agency has repeatedly raised concerns about Iran’s nuclear transparency and its compliance with international safeguards obligations.

The US State Department said the IAEA had also lost what it described as its continuity of knowledge regarding Iran’s production and inventory of important nuclear programme components, including centrifuges.

Under the Rewards for Justice programme, Washington has previously offered financial incentives for information concerning Iranian oil sales, sanctions-evasion networks, financial transactions and activities linked to the IRGC.

The latest offer specifically targets information about Iran’s nuclear facilities, equipment and associated personnel.

US sanctions eight Canadian financial services companies

In a separate development, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against eight financial services businesses operating in Canada over their alleged financial connections with Iran.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) accused the companies of facilitating the conversion of Iranian rials and other currencies into digital assets, enabling Iranian government entities, the IRGC and other sanctioned individuals and organisations to transfer funds internationally.

According to the Treasury Department, several of the businesses conducted transactions with Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges that had already been sanctioned by Washington.

US officials also alleged that digital asset addresses associated with some of the companies had conducted transactions with addresses linked to the IRGC and other sanctioned entities.

The eight designated businesses are:

1. Diverse Trade Inc, operating as Million Exchange.

2. 1380079 BC Limited, operating as Amin Exchange.

3. Top PC Technician Inc.

4. NIA Nations Currency Ltd.

5. 2397639 Ontario Ltd, operating as Farah Exchange.

6. CCC Inc.

7. B Galaxy Inc, operating as Cryptoyal.

8. Darvish Exchange.

The companies are based in Ontario and British Columbia.

According to the Treasury Department, some of the businesses changed their names and addresses in an apparent attempt to avoid detection and enforcement action, but continued their financial activities despite concerns raised about their operations.

The department said the companies had provided financial services that allowed Iranian entities to move money across international borders and convert funds into digital assets, making it more difficult for US authorities to track transactions.

Alleged links to drug trafficking networks

The Treasury Department also alleged that several of the sanctioned businesses had been involved in transferring proceeds from drug trafficking.

According to the US government, some of the companies had conducted financial transactions connected to Ryan Wedding, a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder accused by US authorities of operating an international drug trafficking network.

The Treasury Department said Wedding had used money exchange businesses in the Toronto and Vancouver areas to convert cash generated from drug sales into digital assets and transfer the funds internationally.

US officials alleged that some of the designated companies had processed millions of dollars in transactions associated with these activities before Wedding was taken into US custody in January 2026.

The sanctions were coordinated with Canada's Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC), the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Washington expands Operation Economic Outcast

The latest sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13902 as part of the Trump administration's broader campaign, known as Operation Economic Outcast, targeting Iran's financial networks and alleged sanctions-evasion activities.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States would continue pursuing financial channels used by the Iranian government and its affiliated organisations, regardless of where those networks operate.

He warned that Canada should not become a safe haven for financial facilitators accused of helping Iran circumvent international restrictions.

The Treasury Department said the operation was intended to disrupt financial channels that Washington alleges are being used to finance terrorism, weapons proliferation and Iranian-backed groups operating across the Middle East.

The department also warned that individuals and businesses outside the United States could face consequences if they knowingly facilitate transactions prohibited under US sanctions.

Under the latest designations, assets belonging to the eight businesses that fall under US jurisdiction are blocked, while transactions involving them by US persons and financial institutions are generally prohibited unless specifically authorised.

International implications and growing pressure on Tehran

The announcements come as Washington continues to increase economic and diplomatic pressure on Tehran amid the ongoing confrontation over Iran's nuclear programme and regional activities.

Reuters reported that the Treasury Department's action against the eight Canadian businesses was aimed at disrupting financial channels allegedly used to facilitate transactions involving sanctioned Iranian entities.

The Associated Press also reported on the $20 million reward offer, placing it within the wider US effort to obtain information about Iran's nuclear infrastructure and its highly enriched uranium stockpile.

According to the Associated Press, the IAEA has reported that Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity, a level that could be further enriched to weapons-grade material.

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful and that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

The latest US measures therefore represent two parallel approaches towards Tehran: offering substantial financial incentives to obtain intelligence about its nuclear programme while targeting international financial businesses accused of helping the Iranian government circumvent economic restrictions.

Washington has indicated that both efforts will continue as part of its broader strategy to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities and restrict the financial resources available to its government and affiliated organisations.