WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has developed preliminary plans to help secure Iran’s nuclear materials if a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran is finalized, according to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, as negotiators continued efforts on a framework deal on Sunday.
The planning, first reported by CBS News and described by officials speaking on condition of anonymity, remains contingent on political decisions and the outcome of ongoing negotiations. The discussions focus on how the Pentagon could support the U.S. Department of Energy and other agencies in locating, securing and potentially removing highly enriched uranium held by Iran.
Officials said no final decision has been made on whether U.S. personnel would be deployed for such a mission. The plans are part of contingency preparations that military organizations routinely undertake during major diplomatic and security negotiations, according to people familiar with the matter.
The reported planning emerged as the United States and Iran moved closer to a framework agreement aimed at reducing tensions and establishing a process for further talks on Iran’s nuclear program. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that an agreement could be signed soon, although Iranian officials said additional review was still required and that the timing remained uncertain.
According to a senior Iranian official, a draft memorandum under discussion includes commitments related to Iran’s nuclear activities, temporary sanctions relief and a 60-day negotiating period to address unresolved issues. The official said details concerning Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium would be addressed through subsequent negotiations.
The fate of Iran’s enriched uranium has remained a central issue in diplomatic efforts. Trump said in May that the United States would ultimately obtain Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, while Iranian officials have previously stated that no agreement had been reached to transfer the material outside the country.
International nuclear monitors have also sought greater transparency regarding Iranian nuclear sites and uranium inventories. Earlier this month, the United States circulated a draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency calling on Iran to provide detailed information about nuclear materials and grant inspectors access to verify those inventories.
A U.S. official familiar with the military discussions told CBS News that the planning is preliminary and dependent on a range of developments. “The discussions remain contingent,” the official said, according to the report.
As of Sunday, neither Washington nor Tehran had announced a final agreement. U.S. and Iranian officials said negotiations were continuing, while military and diplomatic preparations proceeded in parallel as both sides worked toward a potential framework accord.
