A potential U.S. mission to extract nuclear material remains under review as negotiations continue alongside escalating military preparations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump is evaluating whether to authorize a military operation aimed at securing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, as diplomatic efforts continue alongside expanding U.S. military planning, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The report states that Trump has not made a final decision but remains open to deploying U.S. forces into Iran to retrieve nearly 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium that he has indicated Tehran must relinquish. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump warned that Iran must comply with U.S. demands or face severe consequences, stating the regime would need to surrender what he described as “nuclear dust” or risk losing its statehood.
Additional remarks circulating on social media captured Trump reiterating the demand, while signaling that negotiations are ongoing. The president later indicated the United States is “doing extremely well” in talks but added caution, saying, “You never know with Iran,” in comments shared via another post.
According to officials cited in the report, Trump has encouraged advisers to pursue a negotiated transfer of the uranium as part of any agreement to end the conflict, while also considering the possibility of seizing the material if Iran refuses. The discussions reflect a broader objective of ensuring Iran cannot retain enriched uranium that could be further processed into weapons-grade material.
The Journal described any such mission as one of the most complex and hazardous options under consideration. Former military officials and nuclear experts warned that the operation would likely involve inserting specialized teams into heavily defended sites, securing nuclear material under threat of missile, drone, and ground attacks, and transporting it out of the country under strict safety protocols.
The uranium is believed to be stored in multiple secured containers requiring specialized handling. Experts said extracting and transporting the material could take several days or longer, requiring coordination between combat units, engineers, and transport crews operating in hostile territory.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi has indicated that much of the material is located at sites previously targeted in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes, including facilities at Isfahan and Natanz. Prior to those strikes, Iran was believed to possess more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, along with additional material enriched to lower levels. Analysts have warned that the higher-enriched stockpile could be rapidly processed into weapons-grade material if left intact.
Negotiations leading up to the current conflict failed to produce an agreement on Iran’s enrichment program. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Iranian officials made clear they would not abandon enrichment through diplomacy, asserting they would not concede voluntarily what could not be taken by force.
Former U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Joseph Votel said in remarks reported by Breitbart News that securing the material would ultimately require Iran’s leadership to relinquish control and allow an external authority to verify the dismantling of the program. He added that while such an operation could be conducted by U.S. forces, it may be more appropriate for an international body to oversee the process with U.S. support.
Pentagon preparations are already underway for potential expanded operations in the region, including contingency planning for ground missions involving special operations forces and conventional troops. Military units have conducted chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense exercises as part of readiness efforts tied to the risks associated with handling nuclear material.
Additional reporting from Ynet News indicated uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear posture following leadership changes in Tehran. Trump said Sunday that the successor to Iran’s leadership “may be alive” but is “very seriously wounded,” adding to questions about the regime’s direction.
Further comments shared online, including a separate post, show Trump maintaining that military pressure will continue even as diplomatic channels remain open. He described the U.S. position as ahead of schedule and said Washington is now engaging with what he characterized as a new group of Iranian leadership figures.
The decision now facing U.S. leadership centers on whether Iran agrees to transfer its uranium stockpile through negotiation or whether a direct military operation will be pursued to eliminate what officials view as a remaining nuclear threat.
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