WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has developed contingency plans to help secure Iran’s nuclear materials if a broader agreement with Tehran is reached, according to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, as diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear program continue in parallel with a recently announced ceasefire framework.
The planning, first reported by CBS News and subsequently confirmed by multiple media outlets citing U.S. officials, remains preliminary and would depend on political and security conditions, officials said. The discussions focus on potential Pentagon support for efforts to secure or remove Iran’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium as part of any future agreement addressing the country’s nuclear activities.
According to officials cited by CBS News, military planners have examined scenarios in which U.S. forces would assist specialized teams from the Department of Energy in locating, securing and handling nuclear materials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
One option reviewed by defense planners would involve rapid-response deployments in the Middle East and the participation of specialized U.S. government teams trained to address nuclear and radiological threats, according to reports citing officials familiar with the planning.
The contingency planning comes as Washington and Tehran move closer to a broader understanding aimed at ending months of conflict and opening negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. and regional officials have said recent draft proposals include provisions addressing Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and future verification measures.
A senior U.S. administration official, briefing reporters last week, said a potential agreement would lead to “the United States getting the enriched material” and establishing an inspection system to verify compliance. The official added that discussions remained ongoing and that no final agreement had been concluded.
Iranian officials have publicly indicated that negotiations are continuing, though details of any final arrangement remain unclear. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that a draft memorandum covered issues including Tehran’s nuclear activities, sanctions-related matters and regional security concerns.
The Pentagon has not publicly announced any operational plans. U.S. officials have emphasized that contingency planning does not mean a decision has been made to carry out such an operation and that any action would depend on the outcome of diplomatic negotiations.
As of Monday, U.S. and Iranian officials were continuing discussions on the next phase of negotiations, while the status of any agreement governing Iran’s nuclear materials had not been finalized, according to statements from both sides.
