Trump weighs high-risk op to seize 450 kg Uranium from Iran, safety concerns loom

Donald Trump is weighing a high-risk military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, a move that could place American forces inside the country for days or longer, according to US officials.

The plan, still under consideration, reflects growing concern in Washington over Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and the possibility of the material being used to develop a weapon. Officials said Trump has not taken a final call, citing the potential danger to US troops involved in such a mission.

The proposed operation is described as complex and fraught with risk, potentially requiring sustained deployment of US forces on Iranian soil. Officials indicated that while no decision has been made, Trump remains open to the option as part of a broader strategy to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander-in-chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

The Pentagon declined to comment, while a spokesman for US Central Command also refrained from responding.

PUSH FOR DIPLOMATIC SURRENDER

Alongside military planning, Trump has encouraged advisers to press Iran to hand over the uranium as a condition for ending the conflict, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

He has made it clear in conversations with allies that Iran “can’t keep the material”, and has discussed the possibility of seizing it by force if negotiations fail.

Despite mediation efforts by Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, Washington and Tehran have yet to enter direct talks to end the war.

NUCLEAR STOCKPILE CONCERNS

Before a series of airstrikes carried out by Israel and the US in June last year, Iran was believed to possess more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, along with nearly 200 kilograms enriched to 20 per cent.

Experts say such material can be further refined to weapons-grade levels, intensifying concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

HIGH STAKES AHEAD

With diplomacy yet to gain traction and military options under review, the question now is whether Washington will escalate further or find a way to force concessions at the negotiating table.

Any operation inside Iran would mark a significant escalation, carrying risks not only for US troops but for the broader stability of the region.

- Ends

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