US drafts military plan to seize or destroy Iran's enriched uranium, report says

The US Department of Defense is developing an elaborate military plan to capture or destroy Iran's enriched uranium stockpile in the event that diplomatic efforts fail, the New York Post reported. The plan involves deploying thousands of troops alongside special operations forces, engineering units and explosive ordnance teams, according to the report. The forces would be tasked with establishing security perimeters around nuclear facilities, securing supply and evacuation routes, and clearing mines and fortifications. Targets include the Fordow and Isfahan sites, as well as the Jabal al-Fas facility near Natanz, where heavy fortifications could make destruction a more realistic option than removing the material. Joseph Rodgers, a vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the military option could be considered to eliminate the nuclear stockpile if talks collapse, calling the mission potentially one of the most complex military operations in modern history. The newspaper said the plan is not finalized but remains on the table if the diplomatic process yields no progress.