Former President Donald Trump reportedly considered a high-risk military operation to seize Iran’s highly enriched uranium, a move experts now describe as “incredibly complicated” and “ultimately infeasible.” While the White House shared few details, intelligence sources and military specialists paint a picture of a logistical nightmare fraught with danger for American troops. The plan involved potential ground deployments, likely under the guise of enforcing a non-existent peace deal.
The Imminent Deployment: Troops and Targets
Pentagon plans included deploying up to 3,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, specializing in rapid deployment, to the Middle East. The operation, if authorized, would target at least ten key nuclear sites: the Isfahan, Arak, and Darkhovin research reactors; Natanz and Fordow enrichment facilities; Saghand, Chine, and Yazd mines; and the Bushehr power plant. Intelligence suggests Iran reinforced many of these locations with underground bunkers and reinforced entrances after prior air strikes.
The Nuclear Material: Where It Is and What It Means
The majority of Iran’s 60% highly enriched uranium is believed to be stored in Isfahan, sufficient to support a self-sustaining nuclear reaction. Other facilities hold varying levels of enrichment, with the Bushehr power plant containing lower concentrations. The material is stored in large cement vats, some potentially damaged, requiring heavy excavation equipment for retrieval.
Why this matters: Iran’s enrichment levels are edging closer to weapon-grade material. Seizing it would require a ground invasion, a move that could escalate regional tensions and trigger widespread conflict.
Operation “Softening”: Airstrikes and Ground Assaults
The operation would begin with aerial bombardments to “soften” resistance around the target sites, likely conducted by the 82nd Airborne or Marine Expeditionary Units. Ground troops would then advance under cover of darkness, anticipating armed opposition. Experts predict casualties would be “unsurprising.” The most dangerous phase would involve physically retrieving nuclear material, requiring specialized forces like Delta Force or SEAL Team 6.
The Retrieval: Hazmat Suits and High-Risk Handling
Once secured, the nuclear material would be handled by Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams and the Army’s 20th CBRNE Command, equipped with hazmat suits and radiation detectors. Damaged or unsealed material would ideally be left in place, as handling it poses additional risks.
Why this is complicated: The logistics of securing, transporting, and storing highly enriched uranium in a war zone are immense. Any breach in containment could result in widespread contamination and further escalation.
Transport and Storage: The Aftermath
If retrieved, the material would be transported either to the US for dilution or stored in a highly classified location, possibly in New Mexico or Colorado, under heavy Marine Corps Security Force Regiment guard. The Department of Energy and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency would likely oversee storage.
The Verdict: A Risky Undertaking
Experts agree that seizing Iran’s nuclear material through ground invasion would be “very dangerous” and “infeasible.” Trump’s willingness to authorize such a risky operation remains a concern, given the potential for catastrophic escalation. The plan, if executed, would likely result in high casualties and could destabilize the region further.
The situation underscores the precarious balance between military intervention and diplomatic solutions in the Middle East. The risks of a ground invasion outweigh the benefits, making it a last-resort option with devastating consequences.
