The struggle to eliminate Iran's highly enriched uranium (HEU), capable of producing nuclear weapons, remains a critical issue amid ongoing tensions. Previous covert operations, like Project Sapphire in the 1990s, demonstrated the U.S. ability to safely secure and remove nuclear material from countries like Kazakhstan, setting a possible blueprint for current efforts in Iran. However, Iran's current underground tunnels and substantial stockpile, combined with increased wariness and fortified defenses, make similar operations highly complex and risky today.

Experts emphasize that despite military options, a diplomatic resolution remains challenging. Satellite images and intelligence reports reveal Iran's continued efforts to secure deep underground facilities and hide nuclear material, with some analysts estimating enough uranium to produce numerous bombs. Former officials warn that Iran still possesses enough material for about ten nuclear weapons, complicating international efforts to halt its program. The US remains committed to secure and verifiable disarmament, but ongoing distrust and geopolitical tensions threaten to prolong the nuclear standoff.