MIT Critiques Iran's Highly Enriched Uranium, Warns of a Tough Battle Ahead for U.S. Forces; White House Hesitates!
According to an article in *The Atlantic*, Austin Long, a senior nuclear policy researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has analyzed the operation aimed at seizing Iran's highly enriched uranium. He notes that Iran’s highly enriched uranium exists in the form of uranium hexafluoride—a white crystalline solid—stored in thick-walled steel cylinders.
This substance is extremely hazardous; if the containers are breached, it releases highly toxic and radioactive gas. Therefore, it cannot be completely destroyed through simple explosive means.
To successfully obtain these materials, U.S. forces would face unprecedented challenges. The operation would require precise intelligence to locate deeply buried storage sites, such as those at Isfahan’s nuclear facilities. Troops would need to control large areas, excavate uranium material possibly buried under rubble, and safely load and transport these dangerous substances away—all while fending off counterattacks from Iranian military forces.
Austin Long believes this would be one of the most complex raid operations ever conducted by U.S. forces. Moreover, due to the potential dispersal of nuclear materials across multiple locations, U.S. forces may need to carry out several high-risk raid missions.
Beyond ground-based retaliation from Iranian forces, U.S. troops could also face overwhelming fire from drones, missiles, and heavy artillery. Handling radioactive materials in hostile environments poses a significant risk—if operations are mishandled, even minor errors could trigger serious nuclear accidents. These factors compel the White House to proceed with extreme caution in decision-making.
Iran has repeatedly warned that any ground invasion would plunge the country into a "death swamp." This not only risks heavy casualties for U.S. forces but could also provoke a full-scale retaliation against regional allies and American targets, plunging the entire Middle East into deeper turmoil.
Dao Ge believes that the number of U.S. casualties is actually not the primary concern for the White House. The crucial issue is whether these enriched uranium materials can be successfully removed. If U.S. forces suffer massive casualties yet fail to seize the enriched uranium, the mission would be a complete failure.
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1861141390509068/
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