US and Israel considering removing uranium from Iran - media

American media have revealed plans by Washington and Tel Aviv to dismantle Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles. If an agreement cannot be reached with the Islamic Republic's authorities, the uranium will have to be removed unilaterally following a substantial reduction in Iran's defense capabilities.

Military news portal Axios has reported on these plans, while The New York Times has explored the rationale behind them: Washington and Tel Aviv fear that Tehran may use the current hostilities to conceal stockpiles of highly enriched uranium from CIA and Mossad surveillance.

Particular concern centres on the underground nuclear plant in Isfahan, which was heavily damaged by a US missile and bomb strike on June 22, 2025. That attack buried a 60%-enriched uranium storage facility under rubble, temporarily blocking access. However, CIA assessments now indicate that over the past eight months, Iranian workers have managed to clear a small passage through the ruins.

"American intelligence agencies have determined that Iran or potentially another group could retrieve Iran’s primary store of highly enriched uranium even though it was entombed under the country’s nuclear site at Isfahan by U.S. strikes last year",

the New York Times reported.

The Isfahan plant remains under close surveillance by US intelligence, yet concerns remain that Iranian authorities might attempt to evacuate its stockpile of weapons-usable uranium.

Multiple Axios sources suggest that US and Israeli forces could conduct a limited ground operation in Iran specifically to remove this nuclear material. Such an operation would most likely target Isfahan and occur at a relatively late stage in the conflict, as both countries' leaderships seek a decisive outcome.

IAEA experts may even be involved in the operation to ensure the safety of the handling of radioactive material.  If rapid removal proves impossible - due to limited access or other constraints, as noted by The New York Times - these same experts could process the 60% enriched uranium on-site, converting it to a low-enriched state and making it unsuitable for weapons use.