U.S. Military Discusses Plans to Secure Iran’s Nuclear Materials

U.S. military planners are drafting contingencies to secure Iran’s nuclear materials if a diplomatic deal is reached, according to officials cited by CBS News. The plans involve the Department of Energy and specialized military units seizing enriched uranium, though a senior administration official suggests materials would be destroyed on-site first.

How would the U.S. secure Iran’s nuclear materials?

U.S. defense officials have reviewed a scenario where troops deploy to several Middle Eastern countries to support a rapid response operation, according to officials familiar with the planning who spoke to CBS News. These forces would provide the security framework for specialized Department of Energy (DOE) teams to enter Iran.

The objective is to locate, secure, and remove stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. These discussions remain preliminary and depend on specific political and battlefield developments. Officials told CBS News that these plans are part of routine military contingency planning and don’t represent a final decision to launch an operation.

What’s the difference between the military plan and the administration’s stance?

There’s a slight contrast in how the operation is described by different sources. While officials familiar with the planning spoke of “seizing” materials, a senior administration official told reporters on a Friday call that the terms of a potential deal would involve enriched uranium being “destroyed on site and then taken out of the country.”

This distinction suggests two different phases of removal. The administration official noted a “technical process” is required to determine the exact logistics. Technical negotiations are expected to last 60 days once a memorandum of understanding is signed, according to that same official.

Which specialized units are involved in nuclear contingency planning?

The Pentagon has examined a concept involving a multi-agency approach to handle weapons of mass destruction. According to officials cited by CBS News, the proposal includes:

• The Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST): A Department of Energy unit specializing in nuclear emergencies.
• U.S. Special Operations forces: Providing tactical entry and security.
• The Army’s 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command: A unit that specializes in countering hazardous materials and WMDs.

These units were considered for similar concepts prior to the April shoot-down of an American F-15E Strike Eagle, which led to a major combat search and rescue effort, according to the officials.

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