A mission to seize Iran's remaining stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be stored deep underground at a specific facility—an objective the Trump administration has reportedly discussed—would necessitate the deployment of a significant number of U.S. ground troops, not just a small contingent of special operations personnel. This assessment comes from seven current and former officials familiar with military planning.

In June of last year, U.S. airstrikes targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities but did not destroy the country's entire stock of highly enriched uranium, a material essential for producing nuclear weapons. According to three sources, the majority of this material is believed to be stored at the Isfahan nuclear facility in Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the complete elimination of Iran's nuclear capabilities is one of the objectives of the ongoing conflict.

Should the Trump administration decide to proceed with an operation to seize this uranium, it would likely mark the first large-scale deployment of U.S. ground troops in this military campaign. Such an action would represent a significant escalation, requiring a complex mission involving a large number of soldiers to secure, transport, or safely dispose of several tons of highly radioactive material, while also exposing a substantial force to considerable risk.

Two sources indicated that the uranium stored at Isfahan remains accessible to Iranian authorities. Since the U.S. airstrikes last year, Iran has spent months clearing rubble from the above-ground structures at the facility and attempting to regain access to the underground tunnels where the uranium is hidden.

Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated on Monday that approximately 200 kilograms of Iran's highly enriched uranium is likely still stored at Isfahan, with an additional portion located at the Natanz nuclear facility.