ANKARA

US President Donald Trump is considering a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, a complex mission that could place American forces inside the country for days or longer, a report said Sunday.

Officials said Trump has not made a final decision and is weighing the risks such an operation could pose to US troops, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The potential mission is being considered as part of efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, with Trump reportedly open to seizing the material by force if it is not surrendered through negotiations.

“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander-in-chief maximum optionality,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.

“It does not mean the president has made a decision,” she added.

Officials said the uranium is believed to be stored at key sites, including an underground tunnel at the Isfahan nuclear complex and a cache at Natanz.

Experts said any attempt to seize the material by force would be highly complex and dangerous, potentially triggering retaliation and extending the conflict.

The operation would likely require US forces to enter Iranian territory under the threat of drones, missiles and ground fire, secure the sites, and allow specialized teams to locate and extract the material.

“This is not a quick in and out kind of deal,” said Retired General Joseph Votel.

The uranium is expected to be stored in 40 to 50 specialized containers, which would need to be placed into protective transport casks and moved using trucks before being airlifted out of the country.

Officials said the operation could take several days to a week to complete, depending on conditions on the ground.

The US could avoid such a mission if Iran agrees to hand over the uranium through a negotiated settlement, as Washington has previously removed enriched uranium from other countries through coordinated operations.

Trump has also encouraged diplomatic efforts, with intermediaries including Pakistan, Türkiye and Egypt involved in indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran.

“We have a range of options,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, adding the US would prefer Iran to relinquish the material voluntarily

“I would not…tell the world what we’re willing to do… but we have options, for sure,” he added.

Officials said the Pentagon has positioned assets in the region and is considering deploying additional troops, including rapid-response Marine units and paratroopers, as part of contingency planning.

Regional escalations have continued to rage since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.