IRAN Nuclear Raid Plan Rattles Pentagon

President Trump is weighing unprecedented special operations raids deep inside Iran to seize or destroy enough enriched uranium to build ten nuclear weapons, a move that could put American boots on the ground in one of the most dangerous military operations since the war began.

Story Snapshot

Trump administration considering special forces raids on Iranian nuclear sites holding 440 kg of highly enriched uranium
CENTCOM and Israeli military have developed plans to target fortified underground facilities at Isfahan and Fordow
President has expressed serious interest but denies imminent decision on ground troop deployment
Military experts warn raids carry extreme risks but may be only option after airstrikes failed to penetrate deepest tunnels

High-Stakes Nuclear Gambit Under Consideration

President Trump faces a critical decision on whether to deploy American special operations forces into Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear sites to prevent the regime from obtaining weapons-grade uranium. The IAEA confirmed in March 2026 that approximately 220 kilograms of highly enriched uranium sits buried in mountain tunnels at Esfahan, enough material for ten nuclear bombs. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper has developed contingency plans with Israeli partners to raid these facilities, but Trump told Fox News on March 10 he is “not near” making a final call despite serious interest in the option.

Operation Epic Fury Reaches Critical Juncture

The potential ground operation represents a dramatic escalation in Operation Epic Fury, the administration’s military campaign to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities after failed negotiations. Following devastating airstrikes in June 2025 that damaged facilities at Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz, Iran fortified its remaining sites by burying tunnel entrances and dispersing its 440-kilogram stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated flatly that “Iran will not have a nuclear bomb,” signaling the administration’s determination to deny Tehran this capability by any means necessary, including the unprecedented deployment of American forces into Iranian territory.

Military Experts Debate Feasibility and Risk

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mick Mulroy acknowledged that raids to recover highly enriched uranium are “very risky” but technically feasible, emphasizing that airstrikes should be exhausted first. Spencer Faragasso from the Institute for Science and International Security noted that Isfahan’s mountain tunnels may require Massive Ordnance Penetrators or bunker-busters to breach, though these weapons can only penetrate approximately 60 meters. The operation would expose American forces to severe dangers including Iranian counterattacks, radiation hazards, and logistical nightmares in extracting nuclear material from collapsed tunnel systems. Yet some analysts argue this represents the only viable path to permanently eliminating material Iran could weaponize within months.

Peace Through Strength Meets Ground Reality

Trump’s approach reflects his campaign promise of “peace through strength,” backing diplomatic pressure with credible military force to prevent Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold. After the regime fortified sites in January 2026 and reportedly offered only temporary enrichment suspension in February, the administration concluded that airstrikes alone cannot reach the deepest stockpiles. Trump’s recent statement that Iran “apologized and surrendered” but will still be “hit hard” suggests he sees military action as inevitable regardless of Tehran’s posturing. This decision will test whether limited ground operations can achieve what years of sanctions, negotiations, and airstrikes could not: permanently denying Iran the bomb without triggering full-scale regional war.

Trump hasn't decided on sending Americans after Iran's nuclear material, sources say.
(By Jennifer Jacobs, Eleanor Watson)

President Trump hasn't made up his mind yet on whether he wants to send American forces into Iran and seize the country's nuclear material, which would be a…

— Tina M Long (@TinaMGLong) March 18, 2026

The stakes could not be higher for American national security and Middle East stability. Intelligence indicates Iran began constructing even deeper centrifuge facilities at Pickaxe Mountain specifically to evade American bunker-busting weapons, demonstrating the regime’s determination to achieve nuclear capability regardless of consequences. With Israel having already conducted coordinated strikes and destroyed surface infrastructure, the remaining underground uranium represents the final obstacle between Iran and weaponization. Trump’s ultimate decision on ground operations will determine whether this administration’s Iran strategy succeeds in rolling back decades of nuclear progress or embroils America in another protracted Middle Eastern conflict.