United States planned ground operation to capture uranium from Iran, says TV

In the Middle East, Trump retreats and cancels attacks against Iran
Jornal Nacional/ Reproduction
The United States even considered a ground operation inside Iran to take control of the country's stocks of highly enriched uranium, material considered essential for the production of nuclear weapons.
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The information was released by CNN this Friday (12) based on sources familiar with the matter, who claim that the plan was presented to President Donald Trump in recent weeks.
According to the report, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, General Dan Caine, interrupted commitments in Brussels and hurriedly returned to the United States in May to participate in confidential meetings at the American Central Command in Florida.
The objective was to analyze scenarios for a possible military incursion aimed at capturing enriched uranium stored in Iranian nuclear facilities.
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According to sources heard by CNN, Trump received a breakdown of the military options, but decided not to authorize the operation after being warned about the risks of strong Iranian retaliation.
Authorities would also have expressed concern about the possibility of a high number of casualties among American soldiers and the economic impacts of an escalation of the conflict.
The plan was discussed amid negotiations between Washington and Tehran over the Iranian nuclear program. Despite recent statements by Trump indicating the proximity of an agreement, the broadcaster states that debates about military intervention show how close the two countries were to a significant increase in tensions.
One of the main points of disagreement continues to be the fate of the stockpile of enriched uranium held by Iran.
Experts interviewed by CNN assess that an operation of this type would face enormous challenges. Part of the nuclear material would be distributed across different complexes and stored in heavily protected underground tunnels.
According to sources linked to military planning, the mission would require hundreds of special forces soldiers and was classified by American commanders as having a risk between "high" and "extreme", due to the possibility of heavy human losses and a military and economic reaction by Iran.

Source: G1