President Donald Trump is weighing a military operation to physically seize Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), a move that would dramatically escalate the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The consideration comes despite conflicting statements from the President himself regarding the importance of securing the material, and mounting concerns from military and nuclear experts about the feasibility and risk of such a mission.
Just last week, Trump suggested Iran would be compelled to relinquish its HEU, referring to it as “nuclear dust,” and threatened devastating consequences should they refuse. “If they don’t do that, they’re not going to have a country,” he stated on March 29, according to the Times of Israel. However, by April 1, Trump appeared to downplay the significance of the stockpile, claiming it was “so far underground, I don’t care about that,” and that the U.S. Would continue monitoring Iran via satellite, as reported by Reuters.
This vacillation reflects a deeper uncertainty within the administration, but does not negate ongoing planning. U.S. Intelligence assessments, reported by the New York Times, indicate that despite previous strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, including those in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow last June, Iran retains access to its HEU stockpile, particularly within tunnels at the Isfahan complex. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that prior to the June strikes, Iran possessed approximately 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent – enough for roughly ten nuclear bombs if further enriched to weapons-grade levels of 90 percent, according to the IAEA.
The potential operation carries significant risks. Former U.S. Officials and experts warn that extracting the HEU would likely require a prolonged, large-scale deployment of troops operating deep inside Iranian territory and facing active resistance. “It would be very complicated and risky,” said Richard Nephew, a nuclear weapons expert at Columbia University and former U.S. Deputy special envoy for Iran. “To reduce risks, you’d have to put a lot of people on the ground.”
The U.S. Has already increased its military presence in the Middle East, deploying thousands of additional troops, including Marines and Army paratroopers, in recent weeks, as reported by Foreign Policy. Several hundred U.S. Special operations forces, including Army Rangers and Navy SEALs, have reportedly been positioned in the region, potentially for use in an HEU extraction operation, possibly in coordination with Israeli special forces, according to The Economist.
The logistical challenges are substantial. Experts emphasize that the HEU is stored in specialized containers and located in heavily secured, underground facilities. Securing the Isfahan stockpile, for example, would require excavating tunnel entrances, potentially under fire. “You can’t just walk in and seize the Isfahan stocks,” Nephew explained. “They’re in tunnels, the entrances of which are buried. So, you’d have to dig them out, and you can’t do that while under fire.” The operation would necessitate demolition experts, aviation support, and potentially the seizure or construction of a local airfield, such as Badr air base near Isfahan, to facilitate troop and equipment transport and the removal of the HEU.
Any such mission would likely be spearheaded by Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), but would require a broader commitment of resources, including elements from all of JSOC’s component units, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and a substantial conventional force for area security, according to Mick Mulroy, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East. Mulroy also noted that the damage inflicted on Iranian nuclear facilities by previous strikes complicates preparations, as training has been based on intact facility models.
The transportation of the HEU itself presents a significant hazard, requiring specialized transport casks and protective equipment for troops operating in a potentially hostile environment. “The enemy gets a vote, and everything changes when the gunfire starts,” Mulroy said, emphasizing Iran’s capacity to mount a substantial defense. While U.S. Strikes have degraded Iran’s military capabilities, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Artesh retain the ability to deploy large formations against U.S. Forces.
The U.S. Has undertaken similar, though less complex, operations in the past. Project Sapphire in 1994 involved the covert removal of HEU from Kazakhstan, but that operation was not conducted in an active war zone. The current situation presents a far more dangerous and uncertain environment.
While Trump has also sought a negotiated settlement involving the handover of the HEU, diplomatic efforts have so far stalled, with Tehran rejecting U.S. Proposals. Trump has warned of potential strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and the possible seizure of Kharg Island, a critical oil export terminal, if an agreement is not reached by April 6. However, the possibility of a military operation to secure the HEU remains on the table should diplomatic efforts fail.
Fred Fleitz, former Chief of Staff on the National Security Council, argues that retrieving the HEU is unnecessary, suggesting the material may be unusable and that Iran lacks the technical capacity to further enrich it. However, Nephew counters that failing to secure the HEU would leave the door open for Iran to reconstitute its nuclear program once the conflict subsides. The U.S. Intelligence community’s recent annual threat assessment acknowledges that Iran was working to recover from the damage sustained during the 12-day war, but does not assess that Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon.
Despite claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Iran no longer has enrichment capacity, no supporting evidence has been provided. The IAEA continues to monitor the situation, and experts emphasize that even if enrichment is halted, Iran retains the knowledge and infrastructure to rebuild its nuclear program in the future.
