US mulls ground operation in Iran to secure highly enriched uranium: Report

As the conflict with Iran deepens, the United States is reportedly considering an extraordinary military option: sending special forces into Iran to seize the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Diplomatic officials familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the possibility of deploying elite troops to secure the material before Tehran can use or relocate it. While no final decision has been taken, the proposal reflects mounting concerns that Iran’s enriched uranium could quickly be converted into weapons-grade material.

Why the uranium stockpile matters

At the heart of the debate is roughly 450 kgs of uranium enriched to about 60%, which experts say is close to the level needed to build nuclear weapons. If further enriched, that amount could potentially produce material for several nuclear bombs.

The situation has become more complicated after previous strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Some facilities were damaged, but intelligence officials believe the enriched uranium itself may still be buried deep inside fortified sites or tunnels.

More from World

Regime change, nuclear bomb, Israel…: 5 Iran war flip-flops of Trump administration Trump warns death toll of US troops 'likely to increase', says US, Israel strikes on Iran might last 4 weeks

Because the material could be hidden underground or under rubble, airstrikes alone may not be enough to secure it. That has led US officials to explore whether special operations forces might be able to physically locate and retrieve the uranium.

A high-risk military scenario

The concept of a ground raid inside Iran would represent a dramatic escalation of the conflict. Any such mission would likely involve highly trained commandos entering heavily defended nuclear facilities and removing or neutralising the material.

Officials have also discussed alternative approaches, including bringing in nuclear experts to dilute the uranium on site rather than transporting it out of the country. Both options would be complex and dangerous, especially given the fortified nature of Iran’s nuclear sites.

Reports suggest that Washington has discussed the idea with Israel as part of broader war planning, though it remains only one of several options under consideration.

Quick Reads

View All

Possible terror motive in US embassy blast, say Norway police

Iran installs hardline cleric Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader after father Ali Khamenei's killing

Also read | Iran war hits America hard back home, gas prices soar to highest levels under Trump 2.0

Not yet a final decision

For now, US officials stress that the proposal is only a contingency plan and that no operation has been approved. Trump has indicated that deploying ground forces would only be considered if there were a compelling reason to do so.

Still, the fact that such a plan is being debated highlights the seriousness of Western concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities.