President Donald Trump is considering whether to order a military operation to remove Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to The Wall Street Journal. If approved, the move would sharply widen the war and could put American troops on the ground inside Iran.
The Journal reported that Trump has not made a final decision. The report said he is still weighing the military risks, including the danger to U.S. forces and the possibility of a broader regional response.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said Iran would have to give up its highly enriched uranium for the war to end. The Wall Street Journal reported that he referred to the material as “nuclear dust” while speaking aboard Air Force One.
Any operation to seize or remove the uranium would be complex. According to the Journal, U.S. forces could be required to enter Iran, secure nuclear sites, and hold them long enough for technical teams to locate and move the material.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said military planning should not be read as a final order from the president. “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander-in-chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision,” she said, according to the Journal.
A Feb. 27, 2026, report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, cited by Reuters, said Iran had 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% before last year’s Israeli-U.S. strikes. Reuters reported that amount would be enough for 10 nuclear weapons if enriched further.
Reuters also reported that uranium enriched up to 20% and 60% had been stored in the tunnel complex at Isfahan. Some of the most sensitive bombed sites have not been opened to inspectors, so the exact status and location of part of the stockpile remains unclear.
Ninety percent enrichment is generally considered weapons-grade. Uranium enriched to 60% is still below that level, but it is much closer to weapons-grade than the material typically used for civilian nuclear power.
Iran has warned against any U.S. ground operation, and Iranian officials have threatened retaliation if American forces enter the country. Trump has not announced a final decision.
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