WANA (Jun 05) – U.S. President Donald Trump stated early Friday morning that he halted a covert military plan to seize nuclear materials from inside Iran out of fear that it could turn into a disaster similar to the one experienced by former President Jimmy Carter.

 

Recalling the failed 1980 U.S. military mission in Iran—known as Operation Eagle Claw—which led to the crash of several American aircraft during an attempt to rescue hostages, Trump noted that the historic failure contributed significantly to Carter’s loss to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election.

 

When asked by a reporter whether his administration had pursued a covert plan to deploy Army Rangers inside Iranian territory, Trump responded, “I didn’t want to be Jimmy Carter.”

 

The U.S. President noted that his administration considered the operation during the initial stages of the conflict but ultimately scrapped it. “We thought about it, but I didn’t want to be in a position where we had to go in there,” Trump said. “It’s not like Venezuela, where we can go in, stay for a few minutes, leave, and they wave goodbye to us as we fly away.”

 

Trump specified that pulling off the operation to extract Iran’s nuclear materials would have required American boots on the ground in active conflict zones for up to two weeks.

 

Iranian State Media Contradicts Claims, Asserts U.S. Mission Failed

Despite President Trump’s assertion that the operation was canceled before execution, Iranian state media and officials present a different version of events, suggesting a clandestine mission may have actually been attempted and thwarted.

 

In April, Iran’s state broadcaster (IRIB) aired a report alleging that U.S. claims regarding a “pilot rescue mission” were merely a cover story for an actual failed operation to steal enriched uranium from a nuclear facility in Isfahan.

 

According to the state media report, the operation was launched due to U.S. “miscalculations” regarding the capabilities of Iran’s air defense networks.

 

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei previously corroborated these suspicions on April 5, stating:

 

“The possibility that this was a deception operation to steal enriched uranium must not be ignored under any circumstances. However, what is clear is that the outcome of this operation was nothing but a ‘Tabas Two’ [referencing the site of the 1980 failure]. We recognize this as divine intervention showing that resistance, steadfastness, and defense yield results.”

 

Trump Acknowledges Logistics and ‘Miscalculations’

In his remarks on Friday, Trump appeared to inadvertently confirm the very logistical assumptions highlighted by Iranian media, admitting that his administration initially believed Iranian forces were not monitoring certain sectors at the time.

 

“This one was different. You had to stay there for a week to two weeks. You needed massive equipment. You had to airlift equipment in, and you are in a war zone,” Trump explained. “Early on, there was a time we thought about doing it because they weren’t watching [those areas] at that point.”

 

He continued: “But they would have found out eventually. I mean, over a one- to two-week period, you’re looking at a major construction and engineering operation… But Peter, we had to be there for a week to two weeks. We could have gotten it, but I said I didn’t like the idea. Suddenly, they would pinpoint your exact location. They still had missiles left. They would target your position and just keep firing until one hit, and people got killed. So, I didn’t like the idea.”