U.S. Plans Ground Operation to Seize Iranian Uranium

The United States Department of Defense is developing contingency plans for a large-scale ground operation to capture or destroy stockpiles of enriched uranium within Iran. This planning serves as an alternative to airstrikes against heavily fortified underground complexes, specifically targeting sites at Fordow, Isfahan, and the Pickaxe Mountain facility near Natanz. The proposed mission would involve thousands of personnel to secure perimeters and establish exfiltration corridors, while specialized units—including Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and the Army’s 21st Ordnance Company—would execute the retrieval or destruction of nuclear materials.

This military escalation follows 13 days of mutual strikes triggered by an attack on U.S. service members in Jordan on July 17. In response to these developments, Iran has reportedly hardened the Isfahan facility by installing mines and explosives in tunnels and increasing perimeter forces. The International Atomic Energy Agency estimated in 2025 that Iran possessed more than 20,000 pounds of enriched uranium.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed its retaliatory "Operation Nasr II" killed over 200 U.S. military personnel, though the Pentagon has not independently verified this figure. While Washington has not confirmed a specific timeline, experts suggest the operation is becoming more likely as diplomatic negotiations stall.