Washington Message
Washington – Said Arikat – 6/13/2026
Washington – In an exclusive revelation that highlights the magnitude of the risks the region and the world were on the verge of facing, CNN reported that the US administration seriously considered implementing a ground military operation inside Iran with the aim of seizing its highly enriched uranium stockpile, before US President Donald Trump decided to freeze the plan for fear of catastrophic military and economic repercussions.
According to the report, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kaine, cut short an official visit to Europe and hastily returned to the headquarters of the US Central Command in Tampa, Florida, on May 19, to receive urgent and secret briefings on a scenario of sending US special forces deep into Iran to seize nuclear materials that Washington considers the basis of any potential Iranian capability to produce a nuclear weapon.
This development reveals that the United States was much closer to a direct military confrontation with Iran than was publicly announced, despite repeated statements by Trump about the imminent conclusion of a political agreement with Tehran addressing the Iranian nuclear program and navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz.
After receiving the military briefings, Trump reviewed the available options, but military and intelligence assessments warned that any ground operation could provoke a widespread Iranian response, lead to a prolonged war, and threaten the global economy with an unprecedented wave of unrest. The US President also expressed growing concerns about the possibility of a large number of casualties among US forces, which could face public rejection within the United States.
The report indicates that the operation to seize Iranian uranium was not merely a limited strike or a swift commando operation, but rather required the deployment of hundreds of special forces personnel and the establishment of a broad military presence within Iranian territory. The report quoted an insider as saying that the mission would have practically meant an “invasion of Iran,” given the complexity of Iranian nuclear sites and the spread of nuclear materials within tunnels and fortified facilities under mountains.
Information confirms that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium is distributed across several key sites, most notably Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow, facilities that have previously been subjected to American and Israeli strikes, but these strikes did not succeed in completely eliminating the nuclear materials present there.
Doubts are growing within Western nuclear circles about the ability of any military operation to locate all Iranian nuclear materials and ensure their complete control under complex combat conditions. Experts believe that merely finding and safely transporting the materials represents a formidable challenge, in addition to the risks of ambushes, booby-trapped tunnels, and Iranian missile and drone attacks.
In parallel with the military risks, CNN reveals that Tehran has hinted at a highly dangerous economic option in the event of a breakdown in negotiations and a resumption of war. This option involves pushing the Houthi group to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the most important global trade routes, which could lead to widespread paralysis in international trade and a significant increase in energy and shipping prices.
These facts highlight the extent of the contradiction between the public political discourse that spoke of increasing opportunities for an agreement between Washington and Tehran, and the secret military preparations that were being discussed at the highest levels of American leadership. It also reflects that negotiations were not a complete alternative to military force, but rather proceeded in parallel with preparations for more dangerous options.
Although Trump ultimately halted the plan, the report confirms that the option of seizing Iranian uranium has not been permanently removed from the American options table. It appears that the US administration still considers the elimination of Iran's uranium stockpile one of its primary goals, either through negotiation or through harsher means if ongoing talks collapse.
In his last public comment, Trump appeared less enthusiastic about the military option, when he indicated that Iranian nuclear materials are buried under mountains, saying that no one would easily be able to access them. However, the facts revealed by CNN show that the American military establishment had gone much further than mere theoretical thinking, and that the region was a short distance from a confrontation that could have redrawn the map of the entire Middle East.
Limits of American Military Power
These leaks reveal that American military power, despite its immense superiority, faces practical limits when it comes to Iran. The country that succeeded in overthrowing regimes within weeks in Iraq and Afghanistan found itself hesitant before a seemingly limited mission of seizing a uranium stockpile. This is due to the nature of Iranian geography, the complexity of its nuclear infrastructure, and the expectations of an Iranian response. Thus, it becomes clear that possessing power does not necessarily mean the ability to use it without exorbitant cost, and that mutual deterrence has become a crucial factor in the calculations of both parties.
Contradiction between Negotiating Rhetoric and War Preparedness
The information also reveals a striking paradox in US policy towards Iran. While Washington was talking about opportunities for an imminent agreement, it was secretly considering one of the most dangerous military operations in years. This reflects that negotiations were not based on mutual trust, but on a mix of pressures, threats, and combat preparations. It also clarifies that American diplomacy often operates under the umbrella of military force, even when the language of dialogue appears to be the main theme of the political scene.
Global Economy Held Hostage to the Conflict
What is striking in the report is not only the possibility of military confrontation, but also the magnitude of the potential economic repercussions. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz or Bab al-Mandab does not threaten a specific party, but rather puts the entire global economy in front of a new crisis. This fact reflects the extent of the interconnectedness between regional security, energy markets, and international trade. It also confirms that any widespread war between Washington and Tehran will not remain confined within the borders of the Middle East, but will affect prices, supply chains, and economic growth around the world.
Trump's Dilemma Between Firmness and Cost
Trump finds himself facing a complex political and security equation. He wants to appear as a president capable of imposing his conditions on Iran and preventing it from acquiring advanced nuclear capabilities, but at the same time, he realizes that any major military adventure could turn into a political and strategic burden. The leaks reveal that his fears of human losses were not marginal, but were a key factor in freezing the operation. This reflects a growing realization within Washington that the American public is no longer willing to pay the price for long and costly wars in the Middle East.
شارك برأيك
Exclusive CNN report reveals: Washington came close to a ground invasion of Iran to seize uranium before Trump backed down