The United States has offered a $20 million reward for information about Iran's nuclear programme, including details on "facilities, equipment and associated personnel," according to a State Department statement.
The statement said Iran's "lack of compliance with the IAEA [the International Atomic Energy Agency] on safeguards obligations has led to the agency's loss of 'continuity of knowledge' regarding Iran's production and inventory of key components like [nuclear] centrifuges."
Centrifuges are used to produce enriched uranium, which can serve as reactor fuel for civilian purposes or, if enriched to around 90% purity or higher, as material for nuclear weapons.
Speculation has mounted that the US might resume significant strikes against Iran following this week's midterm elections. Prior to the polls, President Donald Trump told reporters he was in "no rush" to do so.
In an interview on the eve of the midterms, Trump said the US "might need to go after Pickaxe [Mountain]," an underground site linked to Iran's nuclear programme. He described such an operation as "not a big deal" and said it could be done in "one hour." The president has made similar threats about the site on previous occasions.
However, both Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have acknowledged that public opposition to the war on Iran contributed to heavy Republican losses in the midterm elections. That outcome has fuelled speculation that the White House may no longer seek an escalation of the conflict.
On Friday, Trump insisted that Iran was eager to end the eight-month conflict, pointing to the damage inflicted on Tehran's economy and military. "We're dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly," he said.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that both sides were "reviewing the ideas and proposals we have presented" and expressed hope that a deal could be reached.
Iranian negotiators had discussed with mediators a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days, contingent on the US meeting seven conditions.
The US and Iran reached a preliminary agreement in June to end the war and reopen the strait, but it collapsed within weeks after Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade.
