US considers special forces mission to seize Iran's uranium stockpile

US military planners are considering a high-risk special forces operation to seize Iran’s near weapons-grade uranium stockpile amid growing uncertainty about its location. The stockpile, approximately 441 kilograms stored near Isfahan before last year’s conflict between Israel and Iran, has not been verified by international inspectors for nearly nine months following airstrikes on key nuclear sites. This lack of access has raised concerns that the uranium may have been moved or hidden, complicating efforts to monitor Iran’s nuclear capabilities. President Donald Trump acknowledged the possibility of future action to secure the material but indicated such a mission would only occur under specific conditions. Contingency plans under discussion include deploying special forces to either dilute the uranium on-site, rendering it unusable for weapons, or physically removing the material from Iran. The stockpile is estimated to fit into about 16 metal cylinders, each weighing roughly 25 kilograms, making it potentially transportable by vehicle or even by hand. The US and Israeli officials are actively searching for the missing