A source informed CNN of the operation's high risks, which could provoke strong countermeasures from Iran.

A US Marine Corps Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft flies over the city during an evacuation drill on May 23, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela; Illustrative.

(photo credit: Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

JUNE 13, 2026 00:44

The United States had reached an advanced planning phase for a ground operation aimed at retrieving enriched uranium from Iran, yet President Donald Trump chose to halt the effort, as detailed in a CNN report released on Friday.

Drawing from insights provided by two individuals with knowledge of the discussions, the report indicates that Gen. Dan Caine, the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented the mission details to Trump. The president opted to forgo the plan following cautions about possible substantial American casualties.

CNN noted that Caine traveled swiftly from a NATO gathering in Brussels to Tampa, Florida, on May 19 to deliver the briefing, implying the operation was nearing approval prior to Trump's intervention.

Trump's choice was further shaped by concerns over heightened tensions between the US and Iran, as well as potential strains on the worldwide economy, the report added.

A source mentioned to CNN that the proposed mission carried considerable hazards, such as the prospect of strong reprisals from Iran.

When contacted by CNN, a representative from the US Joint Staff declined to provide any remarks regarding the operation.

Agreement to Encompass Nuclear Program Dismantlement

According to a Friday report from Reuters, the developing accord between the US and Iran will feature the complete dismantling of Tehran's nuclear initiatives and permit American forces to gather the country's enriched uranium stocks.

A high-ranking US official informed Reuters that the pact also encompasses the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz along with the removal of a US-imposed blockade on Iranian harbors.

Furthermore, the official noted that Iran has pledged under the terms to refrain from pursuing nuclear weapons development, marking the agreement as a key milestone toward that goal.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed via a social media update on Friday that both the US and Iran have finalized the agreement's wording.

Goldie Katz and Ariella Roitman contributed to this report.