The US may deploy special forces to seize Tehran's enriched uranium stockpiles

The United States and Israel are considering the possibility of sending special operations forces into Iranian territory to seize enriched uranium stockpiles.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the Axios portal writes about this citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The operation, the publication's sources indicated, could be carried out in the later stages of a military campaign and would become a key step in achieving Washington's goal of preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

It remains unclear whether the operation would be American, Israeli, or joint. Most likely, it would take place only after both countries are confident that Iran's armed forces can no longer pose a serious threat to the units involved.

The primary target, Axios notes, would be 450 kg of uranium enriched to 60% – this quantity is critical because it can be further enriched to weapons-grade level (90%) in just a few weeks. According to expert estimates, this amount is sufficient to produce 11 nuclear warheads. Currently, the bulk of the stockpile, according to intelligence data, is located in underground tunnels at the nuclear facility in Isfahan, with the remainder at facilities in Fordow and Natanz.

Two scenarios are being discussed within U.S. President Donald Trump's administration: complete removal of the enriched uranium from Iran or its dilution on-site by recruited nuclear experts, possibly from the IAEA. Trump himself, answering journalists' questions aboard Air Force One, did not rule out a ground operation but emphasized that it would only be possible "with very strong justification" and is not being considered at this time. The White House officially states that the president "is keeping all options open."

"If we ever go through with it, [the Iranians] will be so destroyed that they won't be able to resist on the ground," Trump said.

Alongside the nuclear dossier, the seizure of the strategic oil terminal on Kharg Island, through which up to 90% of Iran's crude oil exports pass, is also being discussed. However, sources clarify that this does not involve a large-scale invasion modeled on the Iraq campaign: only targeted raids by small special forces groups to accomplish specific objectives are being planned.

Earlier, The New York Times reported, citing U.S. intelligence sources, that Iran could access the main stockpile of highly enriched uranium buried under the rubble of the nuclear facility in Isfahan through a narrow tunnel.