The plan focuses on securing nearly 1,000 pounds of radioactive material located deep within Iranian territory. Unlike a traditional airstrike, this mission would require a large-scale ground operation inside hostile territory—an approach that significantly raises both logistical challenges and operational risks.
Military planners have outlined a complex sequence of actions. US forces would first need to enter Iran and establish control over the target site. This would involve transporting heavy excavation equipment and constructing a temporary runway capable of accommodating large cargo aircraft. Once operational, these aircraft would be used to extract the uranium from the site. The entire mission could span several weeks and involve hundreds, if not thousands, of troops, thereby increasing exposure to Iranian defenses and potential counterattacks.
The report comes amid escalating rhetoric from Trump, who recently stated that the conflict with Iran could conclude soon but emphasized that US operations would likely continue for another two to three weeks. His administration had previously proposed a 15-point framework intended to de-escalate tensions, which included a demand for Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium—referred to by Trump as “nuclear dust.”
Iran rejected the proposal, although prior discussions indicated a willingness on Tehran’s part to reduce uranium enrichment levels rather than relinquish its reserves entirely.
As tensions persist, the feasibility and risks of such a military operation remain a subject of intense debate among policymakers and defense experts, with concerns centering on the scale, duration, and potential consequences of direct intervention on Iranian soil.
