Trump Weighs Iran Ground Move to Seize Uranium Stockpile
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Washington
- Mar 30, 2026
- 208
Amid rising strategic tensions, Donald Trump is reportedly considering authorising a calibrated ground incursion into Iran with the objective of securing its stockpile of enriched uranium, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Sources familiar with internal deliberations suggest that Trump has made it clear to his advisers that Tehran must relinquish its uranium reserves—estimated at roughly 400 kilograms—or face the prospect of their forcible confiscation should diplomatic channels fail to yield results.
Simultaneously, Washington is said to be strengthening its military footprint across the Middle East, with plans to deploy approximately 10,000 additional troops, of whom more than 3,500 have already been mobilised.
Uranium, a strategically sensitive material, holds dual utility in both civilian energy production and nuclear weapons development, contingent upon its enrichment level. The enrichment process—conducted through high-speed centrifuges—significantly increases its fissile concentration, making it suitable for advanced applications.
According to Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a substantial portion of Iran’s enriched uranium is believed to remain concealed within hardened underground facilities, particularly in areas such as Isfahan and Natanz. These reserves are reportedly buried beneath debris following earlier US strikes, rather than being fully destroyed.
While Trump had previously claimed that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were decisively neutralised, subsequent intelligence assessments indicate that significant quantities of enriched material may have survived, albeit entombed within damaged subterranean infrastructure.
Iranian officials, including the foreign minister, have acknowledged that much of the 60% enriched uranium remains buried, with no immediate plans for recovery. Nevertheless, they assert that Iran retains the technical capacity—including operational centrifuge systems—to resume enrichment activities and potentially establish new covert nuclear sites.
The report further notes that some of Trump’s advisers view a limited, precision-driven operation to seize the uranium as a means to shift the strategic equation and potentially expedite an end to hostilities. However, Trump himself is said to be wary of a prolonged military entanglement, particularly given domestic political pressures and looming electoral considerations.
Military analysts, however, have cautioned that such an operation would be fraught with risk and logistical complexity. Any attempt to extract nuclear material from Iranian territory would necessitate a substantial ground presence, exposing US forces to missile barrages, drone strikes, and entrenched defensive systems.
The extraction process itself would be highly intricate, involving the recovery of uranium believed to be stored in dozens of specialised cylinders. These would need to be secured, transported via heavy logistics chains, and potentially airlifted—requiring either an operational airfield or the rapid construction of a temporary runway. The entire mission could extend over several days.
Experts warn that any forcible seizure of nuclear assets could trigger a robust Iranian retaliation, significantly escalating the conflict and prolonging instability across the region.