US mulls ground op to seize Iran's enriched uranium stockpile
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a large-scale ground operation to seize Iran's enriched uranium stockpile. The potential mission, which would require a significant deployment of US troops, aims to eliminate Tehran's nuclear capabilities and aligns with the president's hardline stance.
According to a CNN report published Monday, the Trump administration is actively exploring a military plan to confiscate Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Military officials indicate that such an operation would necessitate a substantial commitment of ground forces, moving beyond a limited special forces raid to secure the radioactive material.
The uranium in question is believed to be stored deep within underground facilities, primarily at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site. Securing this material would be a direct execution of President Trump's stated policy to completely dismantle Iran's nuclear program. Experts note that if implemented, this would mark the first major introduction of US ground troops into the conflict with Tehran.
Challenges of a high-stakes mission
Military analysts caution that recovering the uranium presents immense logistical and safety challenges. A ground operation of this nature would be a significant escalation, exposing a large number of personnel to danger while requiring the complex task of safely transporting a substantial quantity of highly radioactive material. It is estimated that approximately 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of uranium remains at Isfahan, with additional stocks potentially held at the Natanz facility.
Tehran's nuclear advancements
Intelligence sources suggest that Iranian authorities retain access to the underground tunnels where the material is hidden and have been working to clear debris from above-ground structures damaged in previous US airstrikes in June. While Tehran insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful energy purposes, the International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran has enriched uranium up to 60%. Experts warn that enriching material to approximately 90% would make it weapons-grade, enabling the development of a nuclear bomb.
President Trump has consistently maintained that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon is a red line. Reiterating his position last month, he stated, "One thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon."
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