The Wall Street Journal reported on March 30, 2026 that Trump is actively weighing a military operation to send U.S. forces into Iran to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of 60%-enriched uranium from underground nuclear facilities — enough material for approximately 10-11 nuclear bombs if enriched further. Trump has not yet given the order but remains “generally open” to the option.
The uranium is stored at three heavily fortified underground facilities: Isfahan (majority of the stockpile, in tunnels), Natanz, and Fordow. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed the uranium “hasn't been moved.” Satellite imagery shows Iran cleared at least one tunnel entrance at Isfahan and sealed all entrances by early February 2026.
The operation would require elite special operations teams trained in handling radioactive materials, combat troops, engineers, specialized transport teams, and makeshift airfield operations inside hostile territory. Teams would need to fly into heavily defended sites, secure material under threat of Iranian missiles, drones, and ground fire, and transport it out under tightly controlled conditions — a mission experts say could take days or weeks, requiring over 1,000 troops per site.
The fundamental contradiction: Trump claimed in June 2025 that his strikes had “obliterated” Iran's nuclear program. Yet now he's weighing sending ground troops to secure uranium that survived those strikes. When asked directly, Trump said both “I'm not going to talk about that” and “They don't have nuclear potential” — contradicting his own military's assessment.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal: “Securing the uranium cannot be done without a physical presence.” Sen. Rick Scott: “No one has given me a briefing on how you would do it without boots.” Defense Secretary Hegseth: “We have options, for sure.”