The US and Israel consider deploying special forces to Iran to seize enriched uranium and the Halek Island oil port

On March 8, according to Xinhua News Agency citing Axios, the United States and Israel are considering deploying special forces into Iran in the later stages of a military operation to seize high-purity enriched uranium.

The report quotes multiple sources familiar with the matter as saying that the Trump administration has discussed two options: either to transport all enriched uranium out of Iran or to have nuclear experts dilute it on-site.

It is reported that Iran has approximately 450 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium. However, one U.S. official, when discussing the challenges of this operation, stated: “The first question is, where are they? The second is, how do we reach and gain physical control?”

Notably, besides blocking the nuclear threat, the plan also involves seizing Iran’s strategic energy hub—Kharg Island. This energy terminal handles about 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. If the island is controlled, Iran’s energy lifeline could be at risk of being cut off.

“Special raid” rather than “ground war”

In response to concerns about “ground troops entering Iran,” U.S. officials have clarified their stance.

A senior U.S. official explicitly stated: “For Trump, ‘boots on the ground’ (ground combat) does not mean what the media might think.”

The report says this operation is not a traditional “ground troop combat,” but more like a small-scale special operations raid, rather than a large-scale troop deployment.

According to current media disclosures,