Daring operation discussed: “Almost impossible”

Isak Fritzon

Published 20.56

         
         James Stavridis, says a raid of this kind could be “the largest special forces operation in history”.               Photo: Alex Brandon / AP

The US and Israel have succeeded with bold plans in the past.

Now a deadly military operation is being discussed.

The target: Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, reports The Telegraph. 

Quick version

• The US and Israel are reportedly considering a military operation to seize Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium to prevent the development of nuclear weapons.
• Such an operation would be significantly more complex than previous successful operations and involve large numbers of special forces.
• The military plan is considered logistically and tactically extremely dangerous, and some experts believe it is almost impossible to carry out.

Israeli special forces only needed two and a half hours.

They flew low by helicopter into Syria, infiltrated an Iranian-backed underground missile factory, planted explosives and destroyed the facility.

Operation “Many Ways” 2024 was considered impossible, but succeeded.

The US also has a backlash after the successful plan to enter the Venezuelan presidential palace in Caracas and abduct the president.

          

         Graphics: Paul Wallander

Now US President Donald Trump and  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are reportedly discussing an even more daring plan: to deploy special forces on the ground to seize Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.

The goal is to prevent Iran from being able to produce nuclear weapons.

Could be the largest operation ever

Trump has not ruled out ground troops publicly, despite some contradictory statements.

– We have not tried to take it (the uranium, ed. note), but it is something that we could do in the future, the president said earlier in March.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said that someone “will have to get it”.

Such a raid could be “the largest special forces operation in history”, says retired US Admiral James Stavridis to The Telegraph.

Most of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is believed to be in a tunnel system at the Isfahan nuclear facility. But the facilities at Fordow and Nantanz may also have storage.

Iran states that the uranium is “under rubble” after the 12-day war in the summer of 2025. At the same time, US officials fear that it may have been moved, or will soon be moved.

Explosions in Caracas during the US attack.

 

Explosions in Caracas during the US attack. Photo: Str / AFP

“Almost impossible”

Military experts warn that a military operation against the facilities would be significantly more complex than the “Many Ways” and Maduro operation.

Finding and safely transporting the radioactive material could take days, rather than hours.

In addition, it would require hundreds, perhaps thousands, of soldiers deep inside enemy territory to secure the sites. In addition, elite soldiers and specialists are needed who can blow themselves up into the facilities, dig up the uranium and transport it without triggering a nuclear reaction.

“Logistically and tactically, this operation would be extremely dangerous, if not almost impossible,” says François Diaz-Maurin, an expert at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an organization that works on issues of nuclear weapons and global security.

          

          Iran's uranium conversion plant, just outside the city of Isfahan, 410 kilometers south of the capital            Tehran, Iran. Photo: Vahid Salemi / AP