Why seizing Iran's nuclear stockpile would be "one of the riskiest" missions

CBS News
March 27, 2026
3 min read

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Military experts say seizing Iran's nuclear stockpile would be more complex than any previous U.S. special operations mission.

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Military experts told CBS News that a hypothetical U.S. operation to seize Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile would rank among the most dangerous and complex missions ever attempted by U.S. Special Operations forces. Such an operation would face extraordinary technical and logistical obstacles, including securing and transporting materials from multiple heavily fortified Iranian sites while avoiding catastrophic consequences. The assessment underscores the severe practical constraints on military options regarding Iran's nuclear program, even as the Trump administration maintains pressure on Tehran over its nuclear activities. Iran has accumulated significant quantities of highly enriched uranium under its nuclear program, which international observers have monitored closely as a proliferation concern. Military planners have long regarded direct seizure of nuclear material as an extremely high-risk option given the potential for miscalculation, Iranian military response, and regional escalation.

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