Full Breakdown
U.S. Special-Operations Planning to Seize Enriched Uranium from Iran’s Nuclear Sites
7/27/2026, 10:49:53 AM
Core Operation Details
U.S. special-operations forces are reportedly preparing a contingency raid to capture enriched uranium stored in Iran’s fortified nuclear facilities. Planning documents describe a two-phase effort: a conventional force would secure the perimeter and maintain air-space control, while a small team of elite operators would infiltrate the target sites and extract the material. Potential objectives include the damaged Fordo and Isfahan complexes and the underground “Pickaxe Mountain” installation near Natanz, where Iran is believed to have moved hundreds of centrifuges. Iranian defenses are hardened with mines, explosives and perimeter troops, especially at Isfahan.
Background & Context
Negotiations over Iran’s uranium stockpile have stalled, prompting analysts to view a kinetic option as increasingly likely. Former National Security Council director Richard Goldberg has warned that airstrikes alone may not neutralize Pickaxe Mountain because of its depth, suggesting a ground-based special-operations mission could be required. The complex, excavated beneath a mountain in Isfahan province, has been under satellite surveillance since 2020 and saw accelerated construction after a July 2020 explosion damaged Natanz’s centrifuge workshop.
Data & Statistics
- The New York Post cites an unnamed source that the operation could involve thousands of ground troops and specialized units such as SEAL Team 6’s Silver Squadron, the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the Army’s 21st Ordnance Company.
- The IAEA reported in 2025 that Iran possessed upwards of 20,000 lb of enriched uranium.
- A separate IAEA assessment notes approximately 970 lb (440 kg) of uranium enriched to 60 % purity, approaching weapons-grade material.
- Satellite imagery from June 21 2026 shows vehicles at an entrance to the Pickaxe Mountain tunnels, confirming ongoing construction activity.
Official Statements & Responses
- Richard Goldberg, former director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction, emphasized that “we have seen reports of Iran hardening the facility at Isfahan, booby traps being laid, and potentially perimeter forces being stationed.”
Criticism & Opposition
No named critics or opposing officials were identified in the supplied sources; coverage focuses on operational planning and strategic assessments.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Uranium quantity: The New York Post cites a figure of 20,000 lb, while the IAEA’s May 2025 report states 970 lb at 60 % enrichment. The discrepancy remains unresolved.
- Facility purpose: Open-source analysis describes Pickaxe Mountain as a potential centrifuge production site, yet the IAEA has never inspected the complex, leaving its exact function unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have seen reports of Iran hardening the facility at Isfahan, booby traps being laid, and potentially perimeter forces being stationed,” — Richard Goldberg, former U.S. National Security Council official
- “We don’t know how many centrifuges are down there. Would they be looking to actually disassemble, destroy, bring them out? I mean, more likely, if you had to do a special operations mission inside Pickaxe Mountain the reason you would do that is you don’t think you can collapse the facility by airstrike,” — Richard Goldberg, former U.S. National Security Council official
What’s Next
U.S. planners indicate that a decisive raid would require securing a corridor of airspace for extraction and establishing a protected route to a secure airfield. No specific timeline has been disclosed, but the emphasis on “very probably pretty soon” suggests decision-makers view the operation as a near-term contingency pending diplomatic outcomes.
