**Title: Pentagon Considers Major Operation to Secure Iran's Enriched Uranium Stockpile**
The Pentagon is reportedly contemplating a large-scale military operation aimed at seizing Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, which is believed to be crucial for the development of nuclear weapons. According to a report by the New York Post, this potential operation has been characterized as "the most sophisticated operation in military history" by sources familiar with the discussions.
The proposed plan involves deploying thousands of ground troops to storm Iran's heavily fortified nuclear sites, with a specialized team of elite commandos assigned to retrieve the enriched material. The exact locations of Iran's enriched uranium remain uncertain, but the country is known to operate four major nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan, and Pickaxe Mountain. The first three sites were reportedly targeted in US-Israeli strikes last year.
Estimates suggest that Iran possesses around 440 kilograms of enriched uranium, with approximately 200 kilograms thought to be stored in deep tunnels near Isfahan. Additional quantities are believed to be located at the Natanz facility. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated in March that the stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains buried "under the rubble" of the facilities affected by the strikes, asserting that Iran currently has "no plan" to recover or dilute it.
Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified complex carved into granite, was not targeted in the previous strikes as it was still under construction and largely unoccupied at that time. However, reports suggest that the facility has since been reinforced, with speculation that Iran may have relocated centrifuges and possibly uranium deeper underground. Despite these developments, the site is not considered fully operational.
The New York Post's report outlines that regular US troops would be responsible for storming the facilities and establishing a defensive perimeter. Meanwhile, smaller specialized units, including Seal Team 6’s Silver Squadron, the Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion, and the 21st Ordnance Company, would manage the handling and transport of the uranium once retrieved from the damaged Fordo and Isfahan sites.
The operation would necessitate ground crews to navigate and clear booby traps, as well as reopen collapsed tunnel entrances. Additionally, US warplanes would be tasked with securing an air corridor to facilitate the extraction of the uranium.
Joseph Rodgers, deputy director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expressed concerns about the feasibility of such a military operation, stating, "I hate to say it, but I think the most likely way to get rid of Iran’s nuclear material, at least what they currently have, is a military operation because the negotiations aren’t going anywhere fast." He emphasized the logistical challenges of executing an operation deep within hostile territory while safeguarding multiple sensitive sites.
Rodgers also noted that while Iran's military capabilities have been significantly diminished, they remain more sophisticated than those of other nations that have been involved in similar situations, such as Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro.
The New York Times reported last month that much of Iran's uranium is believed to be buried at depths that could withstand even the most powerful US bunker-buster bombs, raising concerns about the risks associated with a retrieval operation. Exposure to moisture could render uranium highly toxic, further complicating the situation.
As discussions continue within the Pentagon regarding potential military actions, the international community remains watchful of developments surrounding Iran's nuclear program and the implications of any military intervention.