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Reports of an imminent large-scale U.S. invasion of Iran to seize its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium are exaggerated, The Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.
Although Israeli officials confirmed that a "limited" special operations mission to secure the nuclear material remains under active discussion, as U.S. intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard warned that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile is at "unprecedented" levels.
Despite numerous recent reports about a potential multi-sided U.S. invasion of parts of Iran, The Jerusalem Post said that it understands those reports to be overblown.
Specifically, the idea of an extended mission in Isfahan to retrieve Iran's 60% enriched uranium "do not appear to be in the cards," the Post reported.
The Post said U.S. military objectives have been consistently focused on eliminating ballistic missiles, drones and naval threats, not the enriched uranium per se.
"There is no obvious or imminent US plan to invade the Isfahan area in the next few days or weeks in order to seize the 60% enriched uranium," the Post reported.
However, it noted that the use of U.S. ground forces in some fashion remains possible, and that the Israeli army has not provided assurance that the nuclear threat will be dealt with before the war ends.
The U.S. and Israel have discussed sending special operations forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium during a later phase of the war, Axios reported, citing officials.
Iran is believed to possess approximately 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, which could be converted to weapons-grade material within weeks.
Two main options have been discussed, a U.S. official said. One would involve removing the uranium from Iran entirely, while the other would bring nuclear experts to dilute the material at the site.
Any mission could involve special operations personnel alongside nuclear specialists, possibly including experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked at a congressional briefing about securing the enriched uranium, said: "People are going to have to go and get it," without specifying who would carry out the operation. A senior U.S. official said discussions are focused on limited special operations missions rather than a large troop deployment.
"Small special ops raids, not a big force going in," one source told Axios.
Trump said Saturday that the deployment of U.S. ground forces was possible under certain circumstances. "If we ever did that, the Iranians would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight on the ground level," he told reporters on Air Force One.
Asked whether troops might be sent to secure nuclear material specifically, Trump said: "At some point maybe we will. We haven't gone after it. We wouldn't do it now. Maybe we will do it later."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump "wisely keeps all options available to him open."
U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard told a House Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile is at its highest levels.
"Iran continues to seek expansion of its influence in the Middle East," Gabbard said, adding that Tehran "has developed and maintains ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and UAVs, including systems capable of striking US targets and allies in the region."
Gabbard said Tehran's enriched uranium stockpile is "unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons" and claimed Iran would likely continue efforts to counter Israel and press for U.S. military withdrawal from the region.
Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has insisted Tehran only targets U.S. military bases and installations in the region, not neighboring countries themselves.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28 and have killed more than 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
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