America weighs ground raid to grab Iran’s buried uranium stockpile
From airstrikes to a possible ground operation
The New York Post reported that American Special Operations forces are effectively on standby for what one source familiar with military planning described as the “most sophisticated operation in military history.” The objective would be straightforward in theory but immensely difficult in practice — seize Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium from heavily fortified nuclear sites and remove it from the country.
According to the Post, the operation under consideration would involve thousands of troops entering Iranian nuclear facilities, securing extensive perimeters, navigating potential booby traps and protecting supply and evacuation routes. Once the sites are secured, a smaller team of elite operators would conduct the actual recovery of the nuclear material.
Joseph Rodgers, deputy director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Post that military action may ultimately be the only realistic way to eliminate Iran’s existing stockpile if diplomacy remains stalled. “I hate to say it, but I think the most likely way to get rid of Iran’s nuclear material, at least what they currently have, is a military operation because the negotiations aren’t going anywhere fast,” Rodgers said.
He described the proposed mission as potentially one of the most sophisticated military operations ever undertaken, noting that although Iran’s armed forces have been heavily degraded by previous strikes, they remain a capable and organized military opponent.
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The challenge extends far beyond entering the facilities themselves. As outlined in the Post report, American forces would first have to establish secure perimeters around multiple nuclear sites while simultaneously protecting routes that could be used to transport uranium out of the country. Rodgers explained that securing the material would require control of the surrounding area, safe convoy corridors and access to an airfield from which the uranium could be flown to a secure destination. Military engineers would likely have to clear collapsed entrances and excavate damaged underground facilities while under threat from Iranian forces.
Former National Security Council official Richard Goldberg, who handled issues related to Iranian weapons of mass destruction during the first Trump administration, emphasised another problem — sustaining such an operation long enough to complete the mission and withdraw safely. “How long can you sustain that and still be able to exfiltrate all of your forces?” Goldberg commented to the Post. The operation would also require effective control of airspace over parts of Iran, something that could demand extensive support from American air and naval assets.
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The forces that could be involved
The Post cited reporting from military-focused outlet The High Side suggesting that some of America’s most elite units could participate. Among the formations reportedly discussed are SEAL Team 6’s Silver Squadron, the Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion and the Army’s 21st Ordnance Company. The latter would play a crucial role because of its expertise in handling and transporting hazardous materials.
According to the report, the 21st Ordnance Company could be responsible for packaging, securing and transporting whatever quantity of enriched uranium is recovered from facilities such as Fordo and Isfahan. The scale of the challenge is significant. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in 2025 that Iran possessed more than 20,000 pounds of enriched uranium. Exactly how much remains accessible and where it is currently stored remains uncertain.
The uranium puzzle
One of the biggest unknowns is the location of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. Iran’s key nuclear infrastructure is spread across Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan and the newer Pickaxe Mountain facility. Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan were targeted in previous US-Israeli strikes, but questions remain over how much nuclear material survived.
According to estimates, Iran possesses roughly 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium. Around 200 kilograms are believed to be located in deep tunnels near Isfahan, while additional quantities may remain at Natanz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in March that the stockpile remained buried beneath the rubble of facilities struck by the US and Israel. He also said Tehran had no immediate plans to recover or dilute the material.
That uncertainty complicates any military planning. A raid cannot succeed unless intelligence agencies can accurately determine where the uranium is located and whether it can be safely extracted.
Isfahan and the threat of booby traps
The New York Post reported that Iran has been preparing for the possibility of a raid on the Isfahan nuclear complex. Goldberg told the newspaper that reports indicate Iran has hardened the facility, deployed perimeter security forces and potentially installed booby traps. He stressed that there is little prospect of surprise because both sides understand the strategic importance of the sites. “There is no element of surprise at the moment. The targets are fixed. We know where they are. The Iranians know where they are,” Goldberg said.
Those concerns gained additional weight after CNN reported last month that Iranian forces had allegedly placed mines and explosives inside tunnels at Isfahan in anticipation of a possible assault. Such measures could significantly slow any effort to enter underground sections of the complex and safely recover nuclear material.
Why Pickaxe Mountain is attracting attention
Another facility increasingly drawing attention is Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried complex carved into granite bedrock. Unlike Fordo and Isfahan, Pickaxe Mountain reportedly escaped major damage during earlier strikes because it was still under construction and not fully operational. Since then, however, intelligence assessments cited by US and Israeli officials suggest Iran may have transferred centrifuges and possibly nuclear-related equipment to the site. Goldberg told the Post that a mission involving Pickaxe Mountain would likely have a different objective from an operation at Isfahan.
If military planners concluded that airstrikes could not collapse the facility, special operations forces might be required to infiltrate the site directly. The goal in that scenario would likely be destruction rather than recovery. According to Goldberg, a raid on Pickaxe Mountain could resemble the operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, involving infiltration, demolition and rapid withdrawal rather than prolonged occupation.
A changing strategic picture
The Post’s report comes just as the Trump administration paused its bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz. According to Axios, the decision followed recommendations from Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command. Cooper reportedly concluded that two weeks of strikes had significantly reduced Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the region and that the existing target list had largely been exhausted.
Axios reported that Cooper advised senior officials that further limited strikes would produce diminishing returns unless Washington was prepared to launch a much broader military campaign. At the same time, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine reportedly warned that shrinking stocks of air-defense interceptors could affect America’s ability to protect its forces and regional partners if the conflict escalated further.
The pause in bombing therefore reflected more than a tactical decision. It highlighted growing recognition inside Washington that air power alone may not fully resolve concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The dilemma facing Washington
The Post’s report underlines a difficult reality confronting American policymakers. Airstrikes can damage facilities, collapse tunnels and destroy equipment, but they may not guarantee the elimination of enriched uranium already produced by Iran. A ground operation could theoretically achieve that objective, but it would involve enormous military risks, uncertain intelligence and the possibility of direct combat inside one of the most heavily defended environments in the Middle East.
For now, diplomatic contacts continue and the White House has signaled that negotiations remain an option. Yet the emergence of discussions about a possible uranium-seizure mission suggests military planners could be preparing for scenarios in which talks fail and Washington decides that simply bombing nuclear facilities is no longer enough.
