US & Israel said to weigh special forces op to secure Iran’s nuclear stockpile as Trump refuses to rule out use of ground troops
The United States and Israel are discussing options to send in special forces to secure the Iranian regime’s nuclear stockpile, according to an Axios news report.
The report comes against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated refusal to rule out such an operation, as well as a recent New York Times report that noted the stockpile, despite being buried under rubble, could still be accessible.
Ending the possibility of the Iranian regime ever attaining a nuclear program is a stated goal of the U.S. and Israeli military campaigns. U.S. and Israeli officials say securing the estimated 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% – material that could be converted to weapons‑grade within weeks – could be key to achieving that goal.
The uranium is stored in canisters in gas form and was buried during last June’s “Operation Midnight Hammer” that destroyed three nuclear sites, including nearly all the centrifuges needed to further enrich the material.
While most of the uranium is being stored in Isfahan, the rest is split between the sites at Natanz and Fordow. The U.S. and Israeli Air Forces recently conducted new strikes aimed at sealing the entrances to the sites in Natanz and Fordow, according to Axios.
According to the New York Times, citing multiple officials familiar with classified reports, U.S. intelligence services believe the uranium in Isfahan is theoretically accessible through a narrow tunnel.
U.S. officials told the newspaper that intelligence agencies have set up close surveillance of the site to prevent attempts to remove it, while the Trump administration is reportedly discussing various options to secure the material.
Among these options is a special forces raid that would presumably require a large-scale operation to secure the broader area before removing the uranium.
Meanwhile, President Trump reiterated that all options are being considered, telling ABC News on Sunday, “Everything is on the table. Everything."
“Boots on the ground for Trump is not the same as what it means for the media,” a senior U.S. official told Axios, while another source mentioned a “small special ops raids – not a big force going in.”
“What has been discussed hasn't been thought of in terms of boots on the ground,” a third source explained to the outlet, appearing to downplay the scope of such a mission.
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