FBI offers $200,000 reward for ex-Air Force specialistreward for ex-Air Force specialist in Iran spying case
The FBI on Friday offered a $200,000 reward for information leading to Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force specialist accused of spying for Iran after defecting there more than a decade ago.
Officials say she is wanted for allegedly passing national defense information to Iranian authorities, and the case matters because it highlights long-running counterintelligence concerns between Washington and Tehran.
FBI and U.S. officials
The FBI says Witt betrayed her oath, gave sensitive information to Iran, and may still be helping Iranian intelligence. By announcing a large reward, officials are trying to widen the search and encourage tips from the public.
Iran-focused coverage
Reports centered on the accusation frame Witt as a former U.S. service member who crossed over to Iran and became a target of U.S. investigators. The story is presented as part of a broader pattern of espionage allegations in the long confrontation between the two countries.
- The FBI’s “Most Wanted” lists have long been used to turn high-profile fugitives into public tip targets.
- Kuwait was once a major staging point for U.S. military operations in the Gulf, making regional intelligence cases closely watched.
- Espionage cases involving defectors often remain politically sensitive for years because both sides treat them as strategic symbols.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
