US ground operation: Trump mulls high-risk offensive in Iran to extract 400 kg Uranium, safety concerns loom large

US ground operation: US President Donald Trump is considering a high-stakes ground operation in Iran to extract 970 pounds (around 400 kilograms) of enriched uranium, officials familiar with the discussions said.

According to the officials, no final decision has been taken but Trump has explicitly conveyed to its political allies that Tehran can't keep the nuclear material, and he has discussed "seizing it by force" if Iran does not give it up at the negotiating table.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said preparations were routine. “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander-in-chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision,” she said.

Meanwhile, Trump also suggested that talks with Iran to end war via backdoor channels were making progress. "A deal could be made fairly quickly." 

Several nations including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt have emerged as key mediators between the US and Iran, however no direct engagement between both the nations have been materialised so far. 

Iran is believed to possess more than 400 kilograms of 60 percent highly enriched uranium and nearly 200 kilograms of 20 percent fissile material.

Military experts have warned that any attempt to seize the uranium would be among the most complex operations undertaken by the US in recent years. 

Analysts caution that such a move could provoke retaliation from Iran and potentially prolong the conflict beyond the four-to-six-week timeframe publicly indicated by Trump’s team.

At the same time, some members of the administration are eager to avoid a drawn-out war, particularly with midterm elections nearing and domestic political pressures intensifying.

Military preparations underway

US forces in the region are already gearing up for various contingencies. Officials said plans may involve deploying additional troops, positioning Marine rapid-response units, and mobilising paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to secure key locations.

The Pentagon is also weighing the option of sending up to 10,000 more ground troops to enhance operational flexibility.