The United States is reportedly studying the option of launching a specialised military operation to extract Iran’s highly enriched uranium, a path surrounded by complex battlefield, intelligence, and logistical challenges that could make it one of the most difficult modern military operations.
Despite Washington’s announcement in June 2025 that Iran’s nuclear program had been destroyed, the stockpile of enriched uranium remains intact. Estimates from the International Atomic Energy Agency indicate that Tehran still possesses approximately 440 kilograms enriched to 60%.
Dispersed Stockpiles and Strategic Concealment
It is believed that Iran redistributed this stockpile following U.S. strikes on three major facilities: Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. Reports suggest that portions of the material may now be hidden across undisclosed locations, deliberately complicating any external attempt to locate or seize it. This assessment was highlighted in a report aired by Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Al-Ken.
Military experts indicate that any potential U.S. operation could require the deployment of roughly 1,000 special forces personnel inside Iranian territory, making it one of the largest missions of its kind.
Immediate Combat Risks and Operational Exposure
Such a scenario faces significant obstacles. Establishing a secure perimeter around storage sites would be essential, yet Iranian missile and drone capabilities could target deployed forces from the outset.
Additional field challenges arise from the likelihood that the uranium is stored deep underground, beneath layers of rock and debris resulting from previous strikes. Extracting it would require extensive excavation operations that could take several days, forcing troops to remain exposed in hostile territory for prolonged periods.
Reports also warn of the possibility that certain storage sites may be rigged with explosives. A single detonation could collapse tunnels entirely, permanently burying the materials within fortified structures. This risk is compounded by uncertainty in intelligence regarding the exact storage locations.
Technical and Hazardous Material Challenges
Even if access to the stockpile is achieved, U.S. forces would face significant technical hurdles. The uranium is stored in large cylinders, each potentially weighing between two to three tons, requiring specialised transport equipment.
Handling such material demands extreme caution to prevent the leakage of toxic and radioactive substances. Specialised weapons of mass destruction response teams would be tasked with inspection, containment, and secure packaging.
The operation becomes further complicated by the risk of radioactive or chemical contamination, whether during transport or if a decision is made to destroy the stockpile on-site. This would require precise preparation and highly controlled response protocols.
Extraction and Withdrawal: A Logistical Bottleneck
The withdrawal phase presents critical challenges. Transporting such heavy and sensitive cargo would require large military aircraft such as the C-17. This would necessitate securing a nearby airstrip or constructing a temporary runway, a process that could take several days.
Throughout this phase, continuous air cover and protection would be essential, further increasing operational complexity.
A Race Against Time in Hostile Terrain
Given these factors, the operation, if executed, would represent a race against time in a hostile environment where combat risks intersect with technical and intelligence uncertainties. The complexity increases significantly if the uranium stockpile is dispersed across multiple locations within Iran.
Intelligence Signals and Strategic Options
The British outlet iPaper reported that the United States is preparing for a potential ground incursion or rapid special operations inside Iranian territory, based on intelligence assessments derived from open source tracking and U.S. military movements.
Earlier, Axios revealed that Washington and Tel Aviv are discussing the possibility of a limited special forces operation inside Iran, potentially working alongside nuclear experts to manage and secure the enriched uranium stockpile.
According to Axios, the proposed plan revolves around two primary options:
1. Removing the Stockpile
Transferring enriched uranium outside Iran.
2. Disabling Enrichment Capability
Neutralising the enrichment process within the nuclear facilities themselves.
