Media: Trump weighs risky operation to seize Iran’s uranium

US President Donald Trump is weighing a high-risk military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, US officials said.

The president has not yet made a final decision, officials said, citing concerns over potential risks to US troops. However, Trump remains open to the plan, viewing it as a way to achieve his central objective of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, The Wall Street Journal reports.

At the same time, Trump has encouraged advisers to push Tehran to surrender the material as part of a negotiated settlement. He has “been clear…that the Iranians can’t keep the material,” and has discussed seizing it by force if diplomatic efforts fail, according to a person familiar with his thinking.

Mediators including Pakistan, Türkiye, and Egypt have facilitated indirect contacts, though Washington and Tehran have yet to hold direct negotiations.

“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander-in-chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Speaking to reporters, Trump warned that Iran must comply with U.S. demands or “they’re not going to have a country,” adding: “They’re going to give us the nuclear dust.”

Before joint US and Israeli airstrikes last June, Iran was believed to possess more than 400 kilograms of 60% highly enriched uranium and nearly 200 kilograms enriched to 20%, material that can be further refined into weapons-grade fuel. Rafael Grossi has said much of the stockpile is likely stored at sites in Isfahan and Natanz.

Military experts caution that any attempt to seize the uranium would be highly complex. US forces would likely face Iranian air defenses and drones while securing the sites. Specialized teams would then need to locate and safely transport the radioactive material, stored in dozens of cylinders, using protective casks.

“This is not a quick in and out kind of deal,” said retired General Joseph Votel.

The operation could take days or even a week and risk triggering Iranian retaliation, potentially extending the conflict beyond the 4–6 week timeframe outlined by the administration. While Trump has emphasized he does not want a prolonged war, officials say the Pentagon is preparing multiple options, including deploying additional troops and rapid-response units in the region.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored the administration’s position: “We have a range of options…which of course we would welcome,” he said, referring to a peaceful Iranian surrender of the uranium, while adding, “we have options, for sure.”

By Vafa Guliyeva