US President Donald Trump is considering a potential military operation aimed at extracting nearly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium from Iran, according to US officials, as the White House weighs both the risks to American troops and the possibility of a diplomatic settlement.
According to reports, the plan remains under review and no final decision has been taken.
Officials said the proposal would represent one of the most complex missions considered in the ongoing conflict, potentially requiring American forces to operate inside Iranian territory for several days or longer.
The central objective would be to prevent Tehran from retaining uranium that Washington believes could support future nuclear weapons development.
High-Risk Ground Mission Under Review
Military experts cited in the discussions said US troops would first need to secure the targeted nuclear sites, allowing engineers and specialist teams to search through damaged facilities and locate the uranium storage containers.
The material is believed to be stored in multiple specialized cylinders, which would require secure transport casks and carefully coordinated extraction logistics.
Officials warned that the operation could place US troops under threat from:
- Iranian surface-to-air missile systems
- armed drones
- fixed-site defenses
- potential retaliatory strikes
Retired military officials reportedly described the mission as among the most dangerous and logistically demanding ever considered.
Diplomatic Option Still on the Table
Officials said Trump is also pressing advisers to continue exploring a diplomatic route.
According to the reports, the president has encouraged intermediaries to push Iran to surrender the uranium stockpile as part of a peace settlement.
Diplomatic channels reportedly involve intermediaries including:
- Pakistan
- Türkiye
- Egypt
While communications have reportedly continued through these channels, officials said no direct talks aimed at ending the conflict have yet taken place.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Pentagon preparations are designed to provide “maximum optionality,” emphasizing that no final decision has been made.
Fears of Wider Escalation
Some officials reportedly believe the mission could be completed without significantly extending the conflict, potentially allowing Washington to conclude hostilities within weeks.
Others, however, warned that any US ground incursion into Iran could trigger major escalation and prolonged retaliation, potentially widening the war far beyond current expectations.
Analysts noted that such an operation could require:
- special operations forces
- rapid engineering teams
- secured extraction convoys
- makeshift airfields for transport aircraft
The prospect of prolonged engagement is said to be one of the key factors influencing Trump’s decision-making, particularly as he balances military objectives with domestic political considerations ahead of upcoming US elections.
Historical Precedents
The United States has previously participated in nuclear material removal missions under peaceful conditions.
These include:
- Project Sapphire in Kazakhstan in 1994
- a joint US-UK operation in Georgia in 1998
However, officials noted that extracting radioactive material from an active conflict zone would be vastly more difficult and dangerous.
Current Nuclear Concerns
US officials cited in the reports said Iran is not currently enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels, but concerns remain over its ability to resume enrichment and develop future delivery systems.
This remains a central issue in Washington’s military and diplomatic calculations.
