US weighs sending special forces to seize Iran's nuclear stockpile

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: msn/Axios

8h


The U.S. and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, according to four sources with knowledge of the discussions.

Why it matters: Preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon is one of President Trump's stated war objectives. The regime's 450 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium — convertible to weapons grade within weeks — is one key to that goal.

The big picture: Any operation to seize the material would likely require U.S. or Israeli troops on Iranian soil, navigating heavily fortified underground facilities in the middle of a war.

It remains unclear whether it would be an American, Israeli or joint mission.

It would likely only take place after both countries are confident Iran's military can no longer mount a serious threat to the forces involved.

Behind the scenes: At a congressional briefing Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked whether Iran's enriched uranium would be secured. "People are going to have to go and get it," he said, without specifying who.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-weighs-sending-special-forces-to-seize-irans-nuclear-stockpile/ar-AA1XK7PS

[Hugin]

1. Selecting the next supreme leader...

Grabbing enriched uranium…

These guys are perpetually unable to get the cart out from in front of the horse.

[LiberalArkie]

8. I would be more concerned about plutonium. How much plutonium does Iran have?

The enriched uranium is primarily used for nuclear power generation, military weapons, naval propulsion, and medical applications.
Civilian Uses.

[paleotn]

2. Recipe for disaster.

Then again, the Iranians have no incentive to believe a damn word we say after all this, so talks are over. Maybe for decades no matter who is in the White House.

[JBTaurus83]

27. Exactly

Make a deal with a Dem, and four years later some fascist asshole is back in that breaks the treaty. Why bother?

[larwdem]

3. A mission

for the cast of Strips

[taxi]

4. KS Tornado had posted this in November

[riversedge]

6. I'd pay good money to see Trump get his Bigly Toe caught in the trap!!!

[taxi]

11. Kids will booby trap their sock drawers to keep Moms prying eyes out,

but Iran will leave their most vulnerable possession unprotected for us to waltz right in and take it. I have a feeling we are too far down the rabbit hole to do the right thing, the power that be are a reckless bunch with the attitude of Admiral Farragut at Mobile Bay in 1864 - that's where he is quoted as saying, "Damn the torpedoes". It appears that his strategy was an act of desperation.

Isaac S. Milner, one of the men in the main top, stated that when the Brooklyn stopped, Farragut ordered the Hartford’s pilot to “Run to the port of her.” The pilot responded, “Can’t sir, obstructions.” “To starboard then,” said the admiral. The pilot responded, “Channels full of torpedoes.” Milner then relates that without hesitation Farragut cried: “Damn the torpedoes! Go on!” John Crittenden Watson, Farragut’s flag lieutenant, standing on the poop deck during the battle, recounted that Farragut said: “Starboard, ring four bells, sixteen bells.” In another source, Watson claimed that Farragut said: “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead, Drayton! Hard a starboard! Ring four bells! Eight bells! Sixteen bells!”15 Thus, most of the commentaries claim that Farragut uttered some combination of “Ring four bells! Eight bells! Sixteen bells!” Interestingly, this is similar to the phrase that first shows up in print.

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2014/july/damn-torpedoes

[OldBaldy1701E]

5. And, later heard from the Iranian News Agency (fake)...

"Thanks for the warning!"

[marble falls]

7. Steal Team 6?

[AltairIV]

9. Just a suggestion

Perhaps they should concentrate their efforts on completely destroy all launchers and all facilities related to the launching and storage of drones.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. A lot of their facilities have been hidden deep underground

and Russia has been able to copy their manufacturing process so they are now making their own too.

[SergeStorms]

12. Just like Bush seized Iraq's WMDs?

No comment.

[EX500rider]

13. Unlike that Iran actually does have a stock of enriched uranium

As of early 2026, Iran holds approximately 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, a level that can be quickly refined to weapons-grade 90%. This stockpile is sufficient to produce up to 10 nuclear weapons if further enriched. Overall, Iran's total enriched uranium stockpile exceeds 2,000 kg

[Bayard]

15. How do we obtain this information?

[EX500rider]

17. Via the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

IAEA (UN Watchdog): Confirmed in late Feb 2026 that Iran maintained a stockpile of over 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, with most stored at an underground tunnel complex at its Isfahan facility.

Not like Iran denies it either.
What did you think they had thousands of centrifuges underground for? Very heavy & expensive paperweights?

[Bayard]

21. I'd just like to know how we know what they have,

Since there are no longer inspections, and as you say, if everything is underground its not like satellites are going to see anything.

Its a legitimate question.

[EX500rider]

22. Because they had nuclear inspectors up until July of 2025?

Regardless of the agreement that Trump pulled out of, that was totally separate from them being members of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty which required the inspectors.

[SergeStorms]

20. But.....

have they managed to build nuclear weapons yet?

The chances are pretty good, but we don't know for sure.

Besides, tRump "totally obliterated" all that stuff 8 months ago, right?

[Prairie Gates]

14. Right after the Kurd invasion

Truly a spaghetti-meet-wall war strategy going on at DoD.

[James48]

16. Already tried, and failed.

Iran said Friday that they captured U.S. Special Forces soldiers trying to do just that.

[EX500rider]

18. "Iran said...." lol, they are a lot like Baghdad Bob

[artemisia1]

19. Yes, but Hegseth, Trump and Rubio are worse. /nt

[EX500rider]

23. As bad as they are no not really

Iran has been known to make the most outrageous statements and lies especially about weapons programs.

Straight up fabrications about weapons programs that don't exist but use some cobbled together nonsense to prove they have a "stealth fighter" or something

[Grins]

24. And how will you get them and it out?

The usual jawboning b.s.

[NowsTheTime]

25. Brings to mind the Iran hostage situation back in the day....

[RandySF]

26. I thought it was buried under rubble.