How Iran's enriched uranium could be secured

Key Points:

• Experts warn that a U.S. military operation to secure Iran’s uranium stockpile would be highly complex, risky, and lengthy, involving radiation and chemical hazards, and potentially requiring around 1,000 troops.
• Iran possesses approximately 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, close to weapons-grade, stored likely in tunnels at multiple sites, complicating retrieval efforts amid damaged infrastructure and security threats.
• Handling the uranium poses significant dangers, including toxic fluorine gas release if canisters are damaged, and risks of a critical nuclear reaction, necessitating specialized equipment, hazmat suits, and careful transport protocols.
• A negotiated settlement allowing Iran to surrender its nuclear material peacefully is considered the safest and most feasible option, drawing on past successful uranium removal missions like Project Sapphire in Kazakhstan.
• U.S. and IAEA officials emphasize the importance of inspections and diplomacy, though ongoing conflict and mistrust, especially after U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal, hinder immediate resolution efforts.