Article:
The possible proposal by US President Donald Trump to send special forces to seize Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile has been deemed a highly complex and perilous military operation by experts. According to reports, the US has been trying to prevent Iran from acquiring the capability to produce nuclear weapons for a long time, while Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. However, Iran has refused to completely dismantle its program.
According to estimates by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has approximately 440 kilograms of enriched uranium, which is 60% enriched and can reach 90% enrichment to be used as nuclear weapons material. A significant portion of this uranium is located in underground facilities in Isfahan and Natanz, which were partially damaged in last year’s US and Israeli airstrikes, but the material was not completely destroyed.
Sources claim that about half of Iran’s missile launchers remain operational. Defense experts say that if the US attempts to seize the uranium through a land operation, it will face severe logistical, technical, and security challenges, as the facilities are located deep underground and within a war zone. Extracting the uranium and safely transporting it will also be a significant risk, as the material is highly hazardous and can produce toxic effects with even minor damage.
On the other hand, destroying the stockpile on site could also pose significant environmental risks and radiation hazards, making it difficult to confirm that all the material has been completely destroyed. Experts warn that such a military operation could push Iran to take a harder stance and accelerate its nuclear program, increasing tensions in the region.
A more feasible solution, according to analysts, could be diplomatic negotiations, where the uranium is placed under international monitoring or its enrichment is reduced. In a statement, Iranian diplomat Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran will maintain full control over its airspace.
In a related development, the Russian nuclear company Rosatom has evacuated 198 of its employees from the Bushehr nuclear power plant after the US and Israel’s airstrikes. An American official said that no branch of the military has been immune to the intervention of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A further suspect has been arrested in London for allegedly setting fire to ambulances belonging to the Jewish community. The Israeli ship MSC Ashika caught fire after being hit by a drone. Iranian authorities have instructed ships carrying essential goods to the Iranian ports to follow a protocol set up for the Strait of Hormuz.
The US embassy in Baghdad was severely damaged, and the CIA station was also targeted. Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf said that Iran is only targeting US military bases and interests in the region, and that ensuring regional security is in the interest of neighboring countries.
