US and Israel Discuss Special Forces Raids to Seize Iran's Nuclear Stockpile
The discussions focus on securing Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, estimated at 450-460 kilograms—enough for 11 nuclear bombs if enriched to weapons-grade levels. No final decision has been made.
WASHINGTON – U.S. and Israeli officials are debating the deployment of special operations forces or other ground troops into Iran to locate and destroy deeply buried nuclear facilities that airstrikes cannot fully eliminate, according to Axios reporting citing U.S. officials.
The discussions focus on securing Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, estimated at 450-460 kilograms—enough for 11 nuclear bombs if enriched to weapons-grade levels. No final decision has been made, with options ranging from limited raids to no ground presence, amid concerns over the regime's remaining hardened sites after weeks of bombing. The U.S. military has not deployed ground forces in Iran thus far, but the idea reflects evolving strategies as the conflict progresses.
Axios notes that while President Trump has projected a four-to-five-week operation focused on threats without regime change, such raids could extend timelines if pursued. Israeli officials have raised the possibility, emphasizing the need to neutralize underground centrifuges and uranium reserves beyond airstrike reach.
This development highlights the challenges in fully degrading Iran's nuclear program through air power alone.
To date, the military action—entering its eleventh day—has involved over 2,000 strikes achieving air superiority, degrading nuclear and missile sites, sinking an Iranian warship, and eliminating key regime leaders, prompting Iranian retaliations including tanker attacks, drone strikes on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, and missile barrages on Gulf allies, with six American service members killed. Reinforcements continue, with Trump projecting four to five weeks of targeted operations to secure U.S. and allied interests.