The administration of Donald Trump is reportedly considering a range of strategies to secure or remove Iran’s reserve of highly enriched uranium, with discussions focusing on the possible deployment of the elite Joint Special Operations Command.
The development was disclosed in a report by CBS News on Friday, citing multiple sources familiar with the deliberations.
According to the report, no final decision has been reached, and the timeline for any potential operation remains uncertain. One source indicated that discussions are still ongoing without a clear course of action.
A spokesperson for the White House stated that operational planning falls under the jurisdiction of the Pentagon, which did not respond to requests for comment from the news outlet.
Any such mission would present significant challenges.
A large portion of Iran’s uranium stockpile—estimated at about 450 kilograms enriched to 60 percent—is believed to be buried beneath nuclear facilities previously struck during U.S. military actions last summer.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, recently confirmed that the material remains “under the rubble,” adding that there are currently no immediate plans to recover it.
The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, has cautioned about the risks involved.
He explained that the uranium is stored as uranium hexafluoride gas in pressurized cylinders, making it extremely hazardous to handle.
“It would be a very challenging operation for sure,” he said, while acknowledging it was not impossible.
The CBS report aligns with earlier coverage by CNN and Axios, both of which indicated that U.S. officials have been evaluating options to retrieve the material and permanently neutralize Iran’s potential to develop nuclear weapons.
