Overview
- The Washington Post disclosed that U.S. military leaders recently briefed the president on a proposal to seize nearly 1,000 pounds of HEU (highly enriched uranium) in Iran using excavation gear, a hastily built runway, and a cargo airlift.
- The operation would take weeks and could require hundreds or even thousands of troops with heavy equipment, with forces likely operating under fire deep inside Iran.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Pentagon planning is meant to give the commander in chief maximum options and that the president has not made a decision.
- Security experts blasted the idea as unrealistic and extremely dangerous, with Mick Mulroy calling it one of the most complicated operations ever and Ilan Goldenberg labeling it the worst option on the table.
- A Cato Institute analysis described a similar commando raid as technically possible yet unlikely to achieve its goal, and coverage ranged from Alternet amplifying expert criticism to TASS summarizing the Post’s account.