The United States last month reportedly considered a military operation to send ground troops into Iran and seize its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, but president Donald Trump ultimately paused the plan over concerns about retaliation, casualties and wider economic fallout.Sources told CNN the administration came close to approving the mission, which would have involved securing uranium stored at heavily fortified nuclear sites across Iran.According to the report, Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made an urgent trip to US Central Command headquarters in Florida on May 19 to review plans for the potential operation before briefing Trump.“Lots of risk,” one source familiar with the planning said, adding that it was not surprising Trump chose not to authorise the mission.Trump ultimately put the proposed operation on hold after being warned it could trigger severe Iranian retaliation, widen and prolong the conflict, disrupt the global economy and result in significant US casualties, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Military planners had also reportedly assessed the mission as carrying a “High to Extreme” risk level due to the challenges of securing uranium stored deep inside fortified underground facilities.However, the report said securing Iran’s highly enriched uranium still remains a key US objective. Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of forcibly seizing the material, but has also expressed concerns about the potential cost in American lives. Speaking to Fox News about another possible military option involving Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub, Trump had said: “I don’t know if America has the stomach for it.“Iran is believed to possess around 970 pounds of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, stored at facilities including Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow. Intelligence officials reportedly believe they know where the material is located, but experts have questioned whether it could be safely recovered during a military operation. “It would be insanely difficult to fish through those tunnels and all the barrels,” one source said. “We’d have to set up a massive presence. Essentially, we’d have to invade.”US military planners reportedly assessed the mission as carrying a “High to Extreme” risk level due to the possibility of significant American casualties.The discussions took place as Washington and Tehran continued negotiations over a possible agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme and maritime security. While US officials have said Iran could agree to dismantle its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media have disputed several of those claims, including reports on the release of frozen Iranian funds.CNN also reported that US intelligence assessments warned Iran could respond to any military operation by encouraging Yemen’s Houthi rebels to target shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a major global trade route.Despite earlier suggestions that the US could seize the uranium stockpile, Trump appeared dismissive of the option on Thursday, saying: “Nobody’s getting close to it because it’s buried under a mountain.”
