Analysis: US Would Need Large Troop Deployment to Secure Iranian Nuclear Material

Expert analysis suggests that the United States would need to deploy thousands of troops to counter Iran's nuclear activities. Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Weber, drawing on his past experience in removing nuclear material from Kazakhstan, explained the anticipated scale and risks of an operation to recover Iranian nuclear material. Securing the highly enriched uranium located in Isfahan's underground facilities would reportedly require a significant contingent of U.S. military personnel and specialized expertise.

Matthew Bunn, a nuclear policy analyst and former White House advisor, noted that U.S. special forces have undergone extensive training for this type of deep underground facility operation. He also pointed out that claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who asserted in 2025 that Iran's nuclear program was completely destroyed after an attack on its nuclear facilities, are inaccurate.

"You cannot say a program is completely destroyed when a country possesses enough material to make multiple nuclear bombs," Bunn explained. "While the airstrikes in June of last year and the ongoing war have severely degraded Iran's capabilities, the remaining capacity is significant, and you cannot bomb knowledge itself."