Recovering Iran’s remaining highly enriched uranium stockpile, believed to be stored deep underground, could require a significant deployment of US ground troops beyond a small special operations presence, according to a CNN report citing seven current and former officials familiar with military planning.
The report said the uranium stockpile, material that could potentially be used to produce a nuclear weapon, was not completely destroyed during US bombing strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities last June.
Much of the remaining highly enriched uranium is believed to be located at Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility, sources told the report.
If Washington were to move forward with an operation to retrieve the uranium, it could mark the first major deployment of US ground forces in the campaign, significantly escalating the conflict and placing a large number of troops in a potentially dangerous mission involving highly radioactive material.
URANIUM BELIEVED STORED IN UNDERGROUND TUNNELS
According to the report, the uranium at Isfahan is believed to be hidden in underground tunnels that survived last year’s airstrikes.
Two sources said Iranian authorities have been working for months after the strikes to clear debris from aboveground structures at the facility and regain access to the underground tunnels where the uranium was stored.
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said earlier this week that around 200 kilograms of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is likely still located at the Isfahan site, with some also believed to be at the Natanz nuclear facility.
Highly enriched uranium is considered a dual-use material.
Iran has said it produces the material for peaceful energy purposes. However, enrichment above around 90 per cent could make it suitable for nuclear weapons.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
