US President Donald Trump insists Iran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons, with elite American troops ready to secure high-risk nuclear sites.
Tensions are escalating in the Middle East as US forces brace for potential missions to seize control of Iranian enriched uranium reserves.
Years of intensive training have equipped special forces and the Nuclear Disablement Team (NDT) to handle a nuclear crisis efficiently.
The NDT’s vital role is to dismantle and analyse nuclear and radiological weaponry, thwarting enemy access to WMD technology amidst new evidence of Iran’s covert nuclear facilities.
NDT operatives have recently fine-tuned their skills alongside the 7th Special Forces Group, engaging in detailed drills at Fort Johnson, Louisiana, reports the Mirror US.
During nocturnal exercises, they practised within a clandestine site designed to distribute radioactive materials, perfecting their specialised operations.
Steven Modugno, a spokesperson for the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, stated: “You’re talking about a potentially radioactive or contaminated environment that they would have to go into, which can be daunting. But the teams are self-deployable.
“They can go in, reconnoitre the site, collect samples, and identify them to figure out what materials are there, what hazards may be present and if there’s a threat.”
This month has seen US military personnel from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives brigade hone their expertise in preparation for large-scale multinational exercises during ‘Exercise Immediate Response’ on European soil.
As speculation mounts over whether Trump will use US forces against Iran, a statement from the White House on 17 June read: “President Donald J. Trump has consistently maintained that Iran cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon-a commitment he has reiterated numerous times, both in office and on the campaign trail.”
According to an assertion from the White House, since his inauguration this year, President Trump has been adamant that Iran should never have nuclear capabilities.
On 16 June, the White House relayed President Trump’s firm stance: “I want to see no nuclear weapon in Iran and we’re well on our way to making sure that happens.”
Furthermore, they cited Trump’s May 16 remarks: “You have to view them as people and I don’t want it to be a violent thing, but they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.”