Washington: US President Donald Trump has acknowledged a clear difference between American military operations in the Middle East and Latin America, stating that any attempt to directly seize enriched uranium from Iran would be far more complex and dangerous than similar scenarios in Venezuela.
While discussing efforts related to Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, the US President revealed why Washington initially avoided a ground operation, citing severe logistical and security risks.
President Donald Trump said:
“We had considered the plan [to seize Iran’s uranium], but I didn’t want to be in a position where we had to go deep inside. It’s not like Venezuela, where you go in, stay a few minutes, and then leave—and they’re waving goodbye to you from the return flight.”
Major challenges of a potential operation
The US President highlighted several key obstacles that made the mission highly risky:
- Need for prolonged deployment: US forces would have had to remain inside an active combat zone for one to two weeks
- Heavy equipment logistics: Large and advanced machinery would need to be airlifted into hostile territory to extract nuclear material from underground sites
- Surveillance risks: Trump noted that the operation was initially considered when Iranian forces had less advanced surveillance capabilities than today
Shift towards diplomacy
The remarks suggest a strategic shift away from unilateral military action due to high operational costs and risks. According to recent reports, the United States is now moving toward diplomatic engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Tehran to explore a coordinated mechanism for handling nuclear material under a negotiated framework.