Pentagon weighs special forces raid to seize Iran's enriched uranium stockpile

U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed on March 12, 2026, that the Pentagon was actively planning a special operations raid to seize approximately 441 kilograms of highly enriched uranium stored at Iranian nuclear facilities including Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz. Intelligence assessments concluded the stockpile was sufficient to build roughly eleven nuclear warheads. Military planners presented options including airlifting excavation equipment to build a runway for cargo planes, as well as an alternative to dilute the material on-site with international nuclear experts.