U.S. President Donald Trump is considering launching a military ground operation to extract approximately 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, in what officials describe as a complex and high-risk mission that could require American forces to remain on Iranian territory for days or longer, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The report indicates that Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to proceed, as assessments of potential risks to U.S. forces are ongoing. However, he remains open to the military option as a means of achieving his primary objective: preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
In parallel, Trump has encouraged his advisers to pressure Tehran to agree to hand over enriched uranium as a condition for ending the war. He has told political allies that Iran cannot be allowed to retain such materials and warned of the possibility of “seizing them by force” if negotiations fail.
The newspaper also reported that Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are acting as mediators between Washington and Tehran, though direct negotiations to end the war have not yet taken place.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that preparing military options is a standard function of the Department of Defense to provide the president with alternatives, emphasizing that this “does not mean a decision has been made.”
According to the report, prior to U.S.-Israeli airstrikes last June, Iran possessed more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, along with around 200 kilograms enriched to 20%, which can be relatively easily upgraded to weapons-grade material.
The Wall Street Journal cited International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi as estimating that most of these materials are stored at two primary locations: an underground tunnel within the Isfahan nuclear complex and stockpiles at the Natanz facility. Iran is also believed to retain the technical capability to rebuild underground enrichment sites.
Some officials and Trump allies believe that a limited operation could allow for the seizure of uranium without significantly prolonging the war, potentially ending the conflict by mid-April. Trump has reportedly indicated to close associates that he does not want a prolonged war, especially with midterm elections approaching and concerns about potential Republican losses.
In a previous speech, Trump referred to these materials as “nuclear dust,” describing them as a key reason behind the outbreak of the war.
However, military experts have warned that such an operation would be extremely complex and dangerous, potentially triggering a direct Iranian response and expanding the conflict beyond the projected timeframe of four to six weeks.
Proposed scenarios include deploying U.S. forces to targeted sites under the threat of missiles and drones, securing the surrounding areas, and then sending specialized engineering teams to search through debris and handle mines and explosive devices.
The mission would also require specialized teams trained to handle radioactive materials, as the uranium is believed to be stored in dozens of specialized cylinders requiring secure transport. This would involve multiple transport vehicles and possibly the construction of a temporary airstrip for moving equipment and materials—an operation that could take several days or even up to a full week.
If Iran agrees to hand over the uranium as part of a deal, such a military operation could be avoided. The United States has previously transferred nuclear materials peacefully from other countries, including Kazakhstan in 1994 and Georgia in 1998.
In recent weeks, Trump has been pursuing a diplomatic track alongside the military option, calling on Iran to dismantle its nuclear program through a negotiated agreement. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington can achieve its objectives without deploying ground troops.
U.S. officials also noted that Iran is not currently enriching uranium at weapons-grade levels but would need to further increase enrichment and develop a nuclear warhead to produce a nuclear weapon. Iran also does not currently possess intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States, though such capabilities could potentially be developed by 2035.
At the same time, the U.S. military continues to prepare contingency plans, including deploying rapid-response Marine units and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to secure strategic sites, as well as considering the deployment of around 10,000 additional troops to the region to strengthen military options.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the United States prefers Iran to agree to relinquish its uranium but emphasized that Washington has multiple options, saying: “We will not reveal what we are prepared to do, but we certainly have options.”
