Trump Rejects Plan to Deploy Troops to Iran for Uranium

President Donald Trump said he considered but ultimately rejected a plan to send U.S. troops into Iran to retrieve its stockpile of enriched uranium, deeming the proposed military operation too risky. The president made the remarks while diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue amid ongoing regional tensions.

Trump explained that the mission, contemplated prior to recent joint U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, was shelved because it would have required a massive military mobilization. He said the operation would have taken at least two weeks to complete, involving the airlift of substantial equipment into Iranian territory and a prolonged presence by American forces. The president drew a contrast to a previous, swift operation in Venezuela, stating this scenario was different and would have left troops vulnerable. He expressed concern that remaining Iranian missile capabilities could have targeted U.S. personnel during such an extended mission.

The president referred to the nuclear material as "nuclear dust" and stated that Pentagon planners had investigated methods for its recovery. Despite deciding against the plan, Trump asserted that the...