By Elsie Kamsiyochi
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States intends to work directly with Iran to recover enriched uranium believed to remain at damaged nuclear facilities following last year’s joint American and Israeli airstrikes. Speaking in a phone interview with Reuters, Trump described the effort as a controlled operation that would involve American teams entering Iran to remove radioactive material and transport it back to the United States.
According to Trump, the operation would focus on collecting what he referred to as “nuclear dust,” the radioactive remnants he says were left behind after Iranian nuclear installations were heavily bombed in June of last year. He said the process would begin soon and would be carried out carefully to avoid further instability in the region.
“We’re going to get it together,” Trump said. “We’re going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and start excavating with big machinery. Then we’ll bring it back to the United States.”
The remarks come at a time of heightened diplomatic activity in the Middle East, as tensions between Washington and Tehran appear to be shifting from direct confrontation toward cautious engagement. Trump’s comments suggest that despite months of military pressure and economic sanctions, both sides may now be exploring practical cooperation on one of the most sensitive issues in their long-running dispute — Iran’s nuclear program.
The reference to recovering uranium indicates U.S. concern that partially enriched material could still remain buried beneath damaged facilities, raising fears that it might eventually be reused or become a broader environmental hazard. Analysts say any mission involving American personnel on Iranian soil would be highly unusual and could mark a significant development in relations between the two countries.
Trump did not provide details on how such an operation would be negotiated, nor did he explain whether international nuclear inspectors or other allies would be involved in overseeing the process. Iranian officials have not yet publicly responded to the statement.
If carried out, the uranium recovery plan could become one of the most extraordinary post-conflict nuclear security operations in recent history, potentially reshaping how both nations handle the aftermath of the confrontation that brought the region close to a wider war.
Source Reuters
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