BLACK mobile logo

united states

'A million things could go wrong' - why seizing Iran's uranium would be so risky for the US

March 31, 2026

President Trump is reportedly considering military operations to seize Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, which experts describe as one of the most complex special operations ever attempted. The mission would require deploying ground troops to underground nuclear facilities like Isfahan, where most of Iran's approximately 440kg of highly enriched uranium is believed stored, though inspectors haven't accessed these sites since 2025 evacuations. The operation faces enormous challenges including locating dispersed materials across multiple fortified underground sites, excavating through rubble from previous airstrikes, and extracting gaseous uranium stored in large containers while under potential Iranian counterattack.

Who is affected

  • President Donald Trump and his administration
  • US military personnel, specifically the 82nd Airborne Division and special operations forces trained in nuclear material handling
  • Iranian regime and its defense forces
  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its director Rafael Grossi
  • IAEA inspectors previously evacuated from Iran
  • Civilians near Isfahan, Iran's third largest city located 300 miles from the facility
  • Israel as a military partner in previous strikes
  • Former US defense officials including Mick Mulroy, Jason Campbell, and Alex Plitsas
  • Jonathan Ruhe and analysts at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America

What action is being taken

  • President Trump is considering whether to order an operation to extract Iran's enriched uranium
  • The administration is potentially using threats of new military operations to pressure Iran to negotiate
  • Iran appears to have fortified underground complexes and sealed tunnel entrances at Isfahan with earth

Why it matters

  • This potential operation represents an unprecedented military undertaking that could determine whether Iran develops nuclear weapons, which is Trump's main objective in the current conflict. The highly enriched uranium stockpile, particularly the 440kg enriched to 60%, can be quickly converted to weapons-grade material at the 90% threshold. Unlike previous US-Israeli strikes that successfully targeted Iran's navy, missiles, and industrial infrastructure from the air, securing nuclear material would require ground forces operating deep inside Iran at isolated facilities, creating significant risks of casualties, mission failure, and potential escalation. The outcome could fundamentally alter regional security dynamics and set a precedent for how nuclear proliferation threats are addressed militarily.

What's next

  • President Trump must make a final decision on whether to proceed with the uranium extraction operation
  • The IAEA needs to return inspectors to Iranian nuclear sites to obtain detailed current information about uranium storage locations
  • If approved, the US would need to decide between diluting the uranium on-site in Iran versus extracting it for processing in the United States
  • The administration may pursue negotiations with Iran, potentially using military threats as leverage

Read full article from source: BBC