IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said a potential U.S. special forces operation inside Iran to secure enriched uranium would be “very challenging,” underscoring the complexity of any mission aimed at physically removing or securing nuclear material after recent strikes. In his interview with Margaret Brennan, Grossi said Iran would likely have “a number of decoys” and “distracting cylinders” at nuclear-related sites, making it difficult to identify and extract the real stockpiles quickly. At the same time, he stopped short of calling such an operation impossible, noting that the United States has the military capability to attempt it.

For the Trump administration, Grossi’s warning reinforces both the urgency and the risk of the next phase. The military may be capable of reaching the material, but the IAEA chief’s remarks suggest that any ground operation would face deception, logistical hazards, and the fog of war from the outset. The result is a sobering reminder that degrading Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is one thing; guaranteeing control over its enriched uranium is a far more difficult mission.