Trump administration refuses to rule out seizing Iran’s nuclear fuel

The United States has not ruled out the possibility of attempting to remove nuclear materials from Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.

“That is something the president has refused to comment on. It is an option on the table for him, but I will not comment on it or take it off the table,” Leavitt told reporters.

She was responding to a question about whether US President Donald Trump could “declare a success” for an operation against Iran without withdrawing “nuclear fuel” from the country. “I will not forecast or remove any future options off the table,” she added.

A senior US administration official clarified on March 13 that Washington currently has no plans to conduct military operations targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. The official emphasized that, according to the White House, such action is not a priority at this time.

The remarks come in the aftermath of a joint US-Israeli military operation launched on February 28, which targeted major Iranian cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the strikes by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out retaliatory operations against sites in Israel. Several US military bases in the region—including in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—were also reportedly hit.

The operation resulted in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations.

Leavitt stressed that the White House intends to maintain flexibility in its policy toward Iran and is keeping all options on the table, while also reiterating that no immediate military action against nuclear facilities is planned.

By Vafa Guliyeva