S. officials. The operation would target nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium stored at nuclear sites including underground facilities at Natanz and Isfahan.
Military experts warn the proposed uranium seizure operation would be highly complex and risky, requiring troops to fly into heavily defended territory and potentially take days or a week to complete. Any ground operation would likely target up to 10 nuclear sites across Iran, including Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow, according to experts cited in research. S.
military buildup in the Middle East region. S. troops are currently positioned across the Middle East, about 10,000 more than usual, according to multiple reports.
S. S. officials said.
S. is considering sending an additional 10,000 troops to the region, according to multiple sources. Beyond the uranium seizure, additional military options are under consideration.
S. S. is also considering seizing Kharg Island, Iran's oil export hub.
The Pentagon has imminent plans to deploy 3,000 brigade combat troops to the Middle East, but the order has not been made at the time of writing, according to The Wall Street Journal. The proposed operations target Iran's advancing nuclear capabilities. Iran has about 450 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, which could be converted to weapons-grade in weeks, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
S. intelligence and the IAEA assess that Iran closed down its nuclear weapons development program in 2003. International monitoring of these facilities has been limited.
Iran has not allowed the UN to inspect damaged facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan since last summer's war, according to multiple reports. Recent military incidents have demonstrated the volatile environment. An F-15E Strike Eagle with two crew members was shot down by Iranian forces on April 3, according to multiple reports.
One pilot was rescued seven hours later, and the other was saved in a high-stakes extraction late Saturday evening, multiple reports indicate. Diplomatic context presents contradictory signals about peace talks and proposals. President Trump is considering a peace deal that would allow Iran to resume uranium enrichment in a decade after a suspension, according to The New York Times.
S. S. officials claim Iran is interested in further talks in Pakistan.
Iran's government rejected Trump's 15-point plan to end the war, according to research. Key unknowns surround whether President Trump will approve the military operation to seize Iran's uranium, and if so, when it might occur. The specific timeline and feasibility of the operation, given expert warnings about extreme risks and complexity, are also undetermined.
S. or involve joint efforts with allies like Israel is another unresolved question. S.
and Iran, and how they might influence military decisions, remains unclear. Despite extensive planning and consideration, the operation remains under review without presidential approval. S.
officials.