Iran's military warned Sunday that the United States is planning an infiltration operation to steal its enriched uranium [1].
The escalation marks a significant increase in tension over Iran's nuclear capabilities, as the state takes aggressive physical measures to secure its assets against foreign intelligence services.
Military spokesperson Arakami Nia said in an interview on state television that all Iranian forces, including the army and the Revolutionary Guard, are on maximum alert to protect nuclear facilities [1]. The spokesperson said that the military is prepared to defend sites where enriched uranium is stored [1].
As part of these security measures, Iran has targeted its own infrastructure to prevent enemy use. Arakami Nia said that runways at certain closed airports have been destroyed [1]. He said that the Iranian army, which held security responsibility for some of these sites, has already executed these destructions [1].
The warnings come amid reports regarding Iran's nuclear stockpile. According to military data, Iran possesses uranium enriched to 60 percent, amounting to 440 units [1].
"The army and the Revolutionary Guard, and all other military forces, are in full readiness to protect the nuclear facilities where enriched uranium is stored," Arakami Nia said [1].
Regarding the airport measures, Arakami Nia said, "To be specific, the runways of the airports in question have been overturned, and this has already been implemented at some airports where the Iranian army was responsible for security" [1].
“Iran's military warned Sunday that the United States is planning an infiltration operation to steal its enriched uranium.”
The destruction of its own airport runways suggests that Iran perceives a high risk of a precision strike or a clandestine insertion of special forces. By neutralizing these landing strips and placing the Revolutionary Guard on high alert, Tehran is attempting to close gaps in its territorial defense to protect its 60 percent enriched uranium, which is significantly closer to weapons-grade than the 3.5 percent typically used in civilian power plants.
