The United States and Israel are reportedly examining one of the most dramatic military options yet in the confrontation with Iran: a possible operation to seize Iran’s highly enriched nuclear material from inside Iranian territory as part of a wider attack.
According to the report, based on the New York Times, Washington and Jerusalem are preparing for the possible renewal of strikes against Iran, possibly as early as next week, after negotiations reached a dead end. One of the central disputes is the US demand that Iran hand over its stockpile of uranium enriched above 60 percent — a demand Tehran continues to reject.
The report says senior officials are discussing the option of deploying special forces inside Iran to capture nuclear material hidden deep underground, especially near the Isfahan nuclear site, rather than merely bombing the facilities and leaving the material buried in the ruins.
Another option reportedly discussed is the seizure of Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf. Such a move would be designed to put extreme pressure on the regime by threatening one of its most important economic lifelines.
