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The United States and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, according to sources familiar with the discussions, Axios reports.
The possible operation would focus on Iran’s estimated 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, which experts say could be converted to weapons-grade material within weeks.
Any effort to seize the material would likely require U.S. or Israeli troops operating on Iranian soil and navigating heavily fortified underground facilities during the conflict.
Officials said it remains unclear whether the mission would be carried out by American forces, Israeli troops or as a joint operation.
The operation would likely only be considered after both countries determine that Iran’s military can no longer pose a serious threat to forces involved.
During a congressional briefing Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked whether Iran’s enriched uranium would be secured.
“People are going to have to go and get it,” Rubio said, without specifying who would carry out such an operation.
A U.S. official said the administration has discussed two possible options: removing the material from Iran entirely or bringing nuclear experts to dilute it on-site.
The mission could involve special operations forces working alongside scientists, possibly from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
U.S. and Israeli officials said strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June buried much of the uranium stockpile under rubble.
Officials said the Iranian authorities themselves have not been able to reach the material since the attacks.
Most of the uranium is believed to be stored in underground tunnels at the nuclear facility in Isfahan, with the rest located at Fordow and Natanz.
During the early days of the war, U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Natanz and Isfahan in what officials said appeared to be an effort to seal entrances and prevent the movement of nuclear material.
Officials said Iran’s centrifuges were largely destroyed and there is no evidence enrichment has resumed.
If the full stockpile reached 90% purity, officials say it could produce enough material for 11 nuclear bombs.
U.S. President Donald Trump said ground troops could be considered but only 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,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Asked whether troops might be sent to secure nuclear material, Trump said the option had not been ruled out.
“At some point, maybe we will. We haven't gone after it. We wouldn't do it now. Maybe we will do it later,” he said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump continues to keep all options open.
“President Trump wisely keeps all options available to him open, and does not rule things out,” she said.
Officials said the discussions involve limited special operations raids rather than a large-scale ground invasion.
Iran also criticized comments by U.S. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham regarding Iranian oil resources.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei reacted to remarks by Graham in which the senator said the U.S. could benefit from oil reserves in Venezuela and Iran.
Sharing the comments on social media, Baghaei wrote: “A rare moment of honesty, everything is about oil.”
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