Trump Considers Sending Special Ops Troops to Seize Iran Nuclear Uranium

President Donald Trump has reportedly considered sending U.S. special operations forces into Iran to secure the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a step aimed at preventing the material from being used to create a nuclear weapon.

Sources familiar with the discussions described the option as high-risk but potentially necessary amid growing uncertainty over the uranium’s location.

The deliberations, detailed by three diplomatic officials speaking anonymously to Bloomberg, highlight the tension between intelligence limitations and strategic imperatives.

U.S. and Israeli officials have expressed concern that some of Iran’s nuclear material may have been moved beyond monitored facilities, creating a blind spot in tracking.

The Intelligence Gap and Rising Urgency

The concern comes after last year’s 12-day conflict in which U.S. and Israeli forces struck key Iranian nuclear sites.

Since then, international inspectors have struggled to confirm the whereabouts of Iran’s most sensitive uranium stockpile.

The resulting uncertainty has become a live operational challenge for military planners.

“They haven’t been able to get to it, and at some point, maybe we will,” Trump said aboard Air Force One, adding that the U.S. had not yet pursued ground action but left the possibility open for the future.

The initial goal of last year’s strikes was to prevent Iran from advancing a nuclear weapons program. Yet those attacks complicated tracking highly enriched uranium, which remains a core concern.

Assessing the Uranium Threat

Before the conflict, inspectors from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitored underground tunnel systems outside Isfahan, where roughly 441 kilograms (972 pounds) of highly enriched uranium were last documented—enough for about a dozen nuclear warheads if further refined.

U.S. officials estimate the material could yield 11 bombs.

In addition, Iran possesses over 8,000 kilograms of lower-enriched uranium that could be upgraded if their facilities resume full operation.

Activity detected near these underground sites raises the likelihood that some uranium has been relocated.

Officials in Washington and Jerusalem are reportedly actively searching for the stockpile and preparing contingencies, including potential deployment of special operations forces if the material’s location is confirmed.

Military Contingencies on the Table

According to a senior Trump administration official, U.S. planners have considered two primary ways to neutralize the uranium: diluting and safely disposing of it on site if U.S. forces gain control, or removing it from Iran entirely.

Earlier reporting suggested that a special operations raid could be an option, though Trump has not confirmed any deployment.

He stressed that ground forces would only be used under extreme conditions, requiring that Iran be incapacitated enough to prevent significant resistance.

Historical Context: Project Honey Badger

The U.S. military has long considered potential incursions into Iran.

Decades ago, after the American embassy hostage crisis, planners devised Project Honey Badger—a scenario involving 2,400 special operations troops transported by over 100 aircraft, along with excavation equipment, to retrieve nuclear material if necessary.

Modern concerns focus on whether the uranium could be dispersed or hidden indefinitely.

Estimates suggest the enriched material could fit inside roughly 16 cylinders, comparable to large scuba tanks, each manageable for transport by vehicle or even manually.

Diplomatic Roadblocks

Before the latest fighting, Iran’s nuclear program was heavily inspected, with IAEA monitors visiting declared sites daily.

That access ended after strikes hit key enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Iran had previously expressed willingness to reduce or export its highly enriched uranium as part of a broader diplomatic deal, but negotiations were stalled by renewed conflict.

Iranian officials have warned that safeguard measures cannot be expected during wartime, signaling their intent to protect the material under all circumstances.

Strategic Risks and Political Uncertainties

While most analysts agree Iran has not yet decided to develop a nuclear weapon, the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei early in the conflict could reshape Tehran’s nuclear posture.

Khamenei’s religious decree opposed nuclear weapons, but a successor could revise this stance.

U.S. officials continue to monitor the situation closely, weighing military options against the potential for diplomatic solutions supported by countries like China and Russia.

Impact and Consequences

A special operations raid carries extreme risks, including the possibility of escalation with Iran, casualties among U.S. forces, and regional destabilization.

The mere uncertainty surrounding the uranium’s location underscores the challenges facing both intelligence and military planners.

What’s Next?

U.S. and Israeli officials are actively assessing both the location of Iran’s highly enriched uranium and the feasibility of military recovery operations.

Diplomatic channels remain stalled, and the administration has left the door open for potential ground intervention if conditions warrant.

Summary

President Trump has weighed sending special operations forces into Iran to seize highly enriched uranium amid growing uncertainty about its location.

Past military strikes, intelligence gaps, and stalled diplomacy have intensified the debate.

While U.S. officials project confidence publicly, private assessments reveal significant operational challenges, leaving potential military action on the table.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Trump has considered deploying special ops to secure Iran’s highly enriched uranium.
• 441 kilograms of uranium could yield about a dozen nuclear warheads.
• U.S. and Israeli officials face intelligence gaps after strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
• Military options include on-site neutralization or removal of uranium.
• Diplomacy remains stalled, raising the risk of escalation in the region.