Iran enriched uranium: Trump weighs US ground troops to secure about 970 pounds

President Donald Trump faces a defining US-Iran war decision: whether to deploy US ground troops to secure roughly 970 pounds of enriched uranium that could support a nuclear weapon. While he has cited varying reasons for military action, he has repeatedly said preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon is a central objective.

President Donald Trump is weighing whether US forces should enter Iran to secure about 970 pounds of enriched uranium. Officials and experts say that stockpile could support up to 10 nuclear bombs. Trump has repeatedly said a core war aim is stopping Iran from ever getting nuclear weapons. How far Trump goes may shape the presidency.

Nuclear specialists say removing or destroying the material is difficult without a major troop presence. The uranium is believed to sit under rubble at bombed sites. US strikes ordered last June hit a mountain facility and other locations. Trump has also promised to avoid long, deadly Middle East wars. That pledge adds political risk.

Trump Iran enriched uranium plan remains unclear

Nearly three weeks into fighting that has killed hundreds, strained alliances, and hurt the world economy, the White House has shared little. "Im not going to talk about that,\" Trump said last week when asked about the uranium. Trump added, \"But we have hit them harder than virtually any country in history has been hit, and were not finished yet.\"

Later the same day, Trump suggested the threat was already removed. \"They dont have nuclear potential,\" Trump said during an appearance in Kentucky. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also avoided detail on possible next steps. Hegseth said the administration sees no point in stating \"what were willing to do or how far were willing to go\" while adding, \"we have options, for sure.\"

Trump Iran enriched uranium and troop concerns in US Senate

Some lawmakers warn that the goals discussed by Trump could require soldiers inside Iran. Sen Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Trumps aims appear uncertain. \"Some of the objectives that he continues to espouse simply cannot be achieved without a physical presence there -- securing the uranium cannot be done without a physical presence,\" Blumenthal said.

Republican senators say planning exists, but they have offered few specifics. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman James Risch, R-Idaho, said on Wednesday that several options have been presented. Risch did not provide details. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said no one has explained an approach without troops. Scott also said, \"I think it would be helpful to get rid of it.\"

Trump Iran enriched uranium: what experts and IAEA say about the sites

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said the assumption is the uranium was not moved. \"The impression we have … is that it hasnt been moved,\" Grossi told reporters in Washington. Grossi said most material is under rubble at Iran’s Isfahan facility. Smaller amounts are at Natanz and Fordow, which were destroyed in last year’s US strikes.

Richard Goldberg, a former National Security Council official in Trump’s first term, said a mission is possible. Goldberg said US and Israeli forces are working towards total air superiority. That could support special operations teams trained to handle nuclear material. Goldberg said rubble removal may require heavy equipment. \"But if you actually own the airspace and you can have close air support and drones and everything else up in the sky for pretty wide perimeter, presumably you could do a lot,\" Goldberg said.

Brandan Buck of the Cato Institute said an effort to extract or dilute uranium could be large. Buck said it may need more than 1,000 troops at each site. Buck said the work would take time. Buck also warned that leaving the stockpile creates another risk. Hard-liners could seek a weapon to deter the US and Israel. \"Trump has put himself between a rock and a hard place,\" Buck said.

Iran has also described earlier talks about the stockpile. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran offered to dilute the uranium. Araghchi said the proposal came during talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The negotiations failed shortly before US and Israeli bombardment began. That left the uranium issue unresolved during the conflict.

US intelligence leaders have offered their own assessment of the strikes. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate panel on Wednesday that the attacks had \"obliterated Irans nuclear enrichment program and buried underground facilities.\" Gabbard said the US is watching for any restart efforts. Gabbard said Iran has not tried to rebuild its enrichment capability. Gabbard also said Iran’s clerical authority was degraded but still intact.

With inputs from PTI