The U.S. military has developed contingency plans to help secure Iran’s nuclear materials if a diplomatic agreement with Tehran is finalized, according to multiple reports as negotiations between the two countries appear closer to a breakthrough than at any point since the conflict began.
CBS News reported Friday that American military planners have discussed scenarios in which U.S. forces could assist in securing, removing, or safeguarding Iran’s nuclear stockpiles as part of a broader agreement designed to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. U.S. officials familiar with the planning told the network the discussions remain contingent on a deal being reached and are not indicative of an imminent military operation.
Nuclear Material Remains a Central Obstacle
One of the biggest unresolved issues in negotiations has been the fate of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
The draft agreement reportedly under discussion would require Iran to halt any nuclear weapons development activities, submit to long-term inspections, and either destroy, remove, or otherwise dispose of its highly enriched uranium stockpile. U.S. officials have repeatedly described removal of the material as a core requirement of any final deal.
Iranian officials, however, have signaled resistance to sending enriched uranium outside the country. Reports earlier this year indicated that Iran’s leadership directed that the stockpile should remain inside Iran, creating one of the major sticking points in negotiations.
The International Atomic Energy Agency and Western governments have also continued pressing Tehran to account for the whereabouts of enriched uranium and resume full nuclear cooperation.
Planning Has Been Underway for Months
The idea of using U.S. forces to secure Iranian nuclear materials is not new.
Multiple reports dating back to March indicated that the Trump administration and military planners were evaluating options ranging from special operations missions to larger efforts aimed at securing Iran’s uranium stockpile should diplomatic or military conditions permit.
According to earlier reporting, one proposal involved American forces entering Iran to secure and remove highly enriched uranium that could potentially be converted into weapons-grade material. Military officials reportedly warned that any such operation would be extraordinarily complex and carry significant risks.
Deal Appears Increasingly Close
The military planning comes as negotiators from Washington and Tehran continue working toward what both sides describe as a potentially historic agreement.
Reuters reported Friday that U.S. and Iranian negotiators are close to finalizing a deal that would extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and launch a 60-day technical negotiation process focused on dismantling key elements of Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said this week that a deal has “never been closer,” while Pakistani officials involved in mediation efforts have claimed the parties have reached a final draft text.
President Donald Trump has likewise suggested an agreement could be signed within days, though disagreements remain over sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, and the disposition of Iran’s enriched uranium.
For the time being, U.S. military planning remains exactly that — planning. But the emergence of contingency discussions suggests officials in Washington are increasingly focused on what comes after a deal, particularly the challenge of ensuring Iran’s nuclear materials are secured in a way that satisfies both nonproliferation concerns and the terms of any final agreement.
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