The United States may need to deploy significant numbers of ground troops to retrieve Iran’s remaining highly enriched uranium stockpile, believed to be stored deep underground, according to current and former officials familiar with military planning.
Sources told CNN that Trump’s administration is considering the possibility of sending the military to retrieve materials essential to making nuclear weapons. These operations could significantly escalate the conflict far beyond limited special operations missions.
The U.S. bombing campaign targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities last June failed to remove all of Iran’s highly enriched uranium. Three of seven current and former officials familiar with military planning told CNN that most of the remaining stockpile is believed to be at the Isfahan nuclear facility.
President Trump has repeatedly stated that the complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities is a key goal of the war. But recovering uranium requires a complex and dangerous mission that requires ground forces to secure, transport or neutralize large quantities of highly radioactive material.
Officials also said Iranian authorities have been working for months to remove debris from above-ground structures damaged by airstrikes and regain access to underground tunnels where uranium is believed to be stored.
According to Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), approximately 200 kg of highly enriched uranium is likely still at the Isfahan site, with additional material believed to be stored at the Natanz nuclear facility.
Highly enriched uranium is considered a dual-use material. Iran claims it produces the material only for peaceful energy purposes. However, when uranium is enriched to about 90% purity, it becomes weapons grade and can be used in nuclear weapons. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s uranium enrichment level is currently around 60%.
Such a mission would require dozens, if not hundreds, of additional ground troops to support the core special operations team tasked with locating the uranium, sources told CNN. The need for a larger deployment stems in part from the Iranian military’s continued control of the site and the surrounding area. Particularly due to the complexities of handling nuclear material stored deep underground, supporting forces will be needed not only to secure the location but also to provide logistical support.
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