The United States and Israel are reportedly engaged in detailed discussions regarding potential special operations within Iran to capture enriched uranium and seize Kharg Island, a crucial oil export point. This strategic move aims to entirely prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while effective means of warfare are neutralized. The execution of such operations could drastically shift the ground combat dynamics that have been largely restrained thus far in the current conflict.

According to reports from Axios and Bloomberg, the two nations have deliberated these operations specifically in the later stages of the ongoing war, targeting approximately 440 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium that can be converted to weapons-grade levels in a matter of weeks, sufficient for producing about eleven nuclear bombs. U.S. officials are weighing two options: one involves completely removing this uranium from Iranian territory, while the other would see scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accompany troops to decrement its enrichment on-site to make it unusable for weapons.

The situation has become complicated following a series of airstrikes last year that aimed to obstruct uranium exports by blocking access to nuclear facilities. Recent reports indicate that some uranium may have already been relocated by Iran in the intervening period, and further complications arise from the suspension of IAEA inspections post-war, obscuring the exact locations of Iran's nuclear material. These developments potentially escalate the risks associated with the proposed military operations and signify the changing landscape of military engagement in the region.