WASHINGTON — Nikki Haley, a former contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, recently suggested that the United States might need to deploy a special forces unit to secure Iran’s uranium reserves.
“This likely requires a special forces mission,” Haley stated during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “It’s a mission that could be accomplished in about a week to ten days. They have the expertise, but it’s undeniably risky.”
Haley emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting, “This isn’t something we can just dismiss. It’s imperative they undertake this mission. Successfully doing so would significantly weaken the Iranian regime’s ability to threaten our allies.”
Reports indicate that President Trump has contemplated authorizing such a high-stakes mission to recover Iran’s enriched uranium, believed to be hidden in fortified underground locations after the U.S. targeted its nuclear sites with powerful bunker-busting bombs.
Despite these considerations, Trump has yet to approve the operation. Instead, he has issued public warnings to Iran, asserting that the U.S. is surveilling its nuclear sites via satellite and is prepared to act if Iran attempts to reclaim its uranium reserves.
Experts have pointed out that if Iran’s uranium stockpiles were to be fully enriched to a 90% purity level, they would possess enough material to produce at least ten nuclear weapons.
Haley, who ran against Trump in 2024 for the GOP nomination, has largely supported the president’s military campaign against Iran. She indicated Sunday that she is not eyeing a 2028 presidential run and argued it’s too early to think about whom she may support.
“I will not,” she said when asked about running.
