Khaberni - A well-informed source on discussions concerning the issue of seizing Iranian uranium revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump said in private sessions that it is possible to seize this material through a precise operation that will not significantly prolong the war, and would allow the United States to end the conflict by mid-April, according to the "Wall Street Journal".
Complex and Dangerous Operation
However, former U.S. military officers and experts warned that any attempt to forcefully seize the uranium would be complicated and dangerous, and among the most challenging operations Trump may order. An Israeli official considered that ending the war without eliminating enriched uranium in Iran would be a resounding failure.
It was disclosed that "Tel Aviv does not want to end the war now, for it is seeking an absolute victory that can only be achieved by eliminating Iranian missile and nuclear capabilities—a complex issue," as reported by Israeli Channel 12.
Another Israeli source clarified that the Iranian nuclear file is left to the American president.
The Fate of 1000 Pounds of Uranium
American officials believe that President Trump is considering a special military operation to extract about 1000 pounds of highly enriched uranium from inside Iran. The officials stated that Trump is assessing the risk that American forces might face, but he remains generally open to the idea as it could help achieve his primary goal of preventing Tehran from ever developing a nuclear weapon.
In line with one well-informed individual about Trump’s thinking, the president has encouraged his advisers to pressure Iran to agree to surrender these materials as a condition to end the war. He emphasized in his discussions with his political allies that Iranians cannot retain this material, and discussed the possibility of seizing it by force if Tehran refuses to hand it over through negotiations.
Before the war in June last year, it was believed that Tehran had more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60% and about 200 kg of fissionable material enriched to 20%, easily convertible to 90%-enriched uranium designed for weapon-making.
Prolonging the Duration of the War
For his part, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, believes that the uranium is mainly located in two of the three sites targeted by American-Israeli airstrikes last June, namely an underground tunnel at the nuclear complex in Isfahan and a warehouse in Natanz.
Military experts believe that the potential operation that is likely to provoke an Iranian response could lead to prolonging the duration of the war beyond the time frame previously set by Trump, which ranges from 4 to 6 weeks.
They pointed out that American forces' teams would need to fly to these sites, most likely under fire from Iranian anti-aircraft missiles and drones. Upon arrival, forces would need to secure the perimeter so that engineers equipped with drilling gear could verify the rubble and search for mines and explosive traps.
Deploying Special Operations Teams
The extraction operation is expected to require the deployment of an elite team of special forces trained specifically for removing radioactive materials from conflict zones. The highly enriched uranium is likely stored inside 40 to 50 special cylinders resembling diving cylinders, so these cylinders must be placed within specialized transport containers to protect against accidents and could fill several trucks.
If an airstrip is not available, it will be essential to establish a temporary alternative runway to bring in equipment and remove nuclear materials.
The experts confirmed that the entire operation could take several days or even a week to complete. Retired General Joseph Votel, the former commander of Central Command, stated, “This is not a quick operation where you can simply go in and out immediately.”
