The United States’ top general, Gen. Dan Caine, made a secret visit to U.S. Central Command headquarters in Florida to be briefed on plans for a potential ground operation to seize Iran’s highly enriched uranium. The operation would have required a significant U.S. ground force, including hundreds of special operators, to locate and verify the uranium, which is believed to be stored in underground tunnels.

Concerns About Retaliation and Casualties

President Trump was briefed on the options for the operation but decided to pause it due to concerns about the potential for severe Iranian retaliation, which could extend the war and harm the global economy. Trump also expressed concerns about the potential for a significant number of U.S. casualties. The US intelligence community is confident that it knows the location of the uranium, thanks to continuous overhead surveillance.

The advanced planning for the operation came amid repeated statements by Trump that the U.S. and Iran were approaching an agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz and conclude negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. However, the discussions around sending ground troops into Iran show how close the U.S. has come to a massive escalation of the conflict.

Iran’s Uranium and the Risk of War

Securing Iran’s highly enriched uranium is one of Trump’s primary objectives that has not been accomplished to date, either through negotiations or military force. The uranium is a key component necessary to produce a nuclear weapon, and the US has been trying to prevent Iran from obtaining it. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Director-General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, has warned that the existing stockpile could allow Iran to build as many as 10 nuclear bombs if it decides to weaponize its program.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.