President Donald Trump reportedly asked U.S. military leaders to propose a plan to remove nearly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium from Iran, highlighting his administration's resolve to ensure Tehran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
The War Department has developed a detailed and highly complex proposal that would involve deploying U.S. forces deep inside Iran, bringing in excavation equipment, and even constructing a temporary runway to airlift the radioactive material out of the country, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
The plan, presented to Trump in recent days, underscores the seriousness with which the administration is approaching Iran's nuclear threat.
While no final decision has been made, officials emphasized that preparing such options is part of giving the commander in chief maximum flexibility.
"It's the job of the Pentagon to make preparations ... It does not mean the president has made a decision," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Trump is weighing the risks of such an operation but remains open to decisive action if Iran refuses to surrender the material.
The president has made clear in both public and private remarks that Iran "cannot have a nuclear bomb — and it won't."
At issue is roughly 970 pounds of uranium enriched to about 60%, just shy of weapons-grade level.
Much of it is believed to be stored deep underground at facilities such as Isfahan and Natanz, making retrieval difficult.
Military experts say the mission would rank among the most challenging special operations ever attempted.
It could require thousands of troops, including elite commandos, engineers, and nuclear specialists, operating under hostile conditions while facing threats from Iranian missiles, drones, and ground forces.
Despite the risks, proponents argue that removing the material could deliver a decisive blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions without requiring a prolonged war — a key priority for Trump, who has said he wants to avoid drawn-out conflicts while still projecting strength.
Conservatives have backed the concept of deploying specialized forces to secure the uranium, arguing that allowing Iran to retain such material poses an unacceptable risk to global security.
Critics, however, point to polling suggesting many Americans are wary of deploying ground troops in the conflict.
Still, War Secretary Pete Hegseth framed the issue in stark terms, reiterating that preventing a nuclear-armed Iran remains nonnegotiable.
Analysts note that the U.S. has successfully removed nuclear material from foreign countries before under controlled conditions.
But attempting such an operation in an active war zone, deep inside hostile territory, would represent a significant escalation in complexity and risk.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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