U.S. agencies prepare technical support for diplomatic agreement to remove Iranian uranium

U.S. military planners have discussed contingencies that would involve American forces helping secure Iran's nuclear materials if a deal is reached, according to U.S. officials familiar with the ongoing planning. The discussions, which remain preliminary and are contingent on a range of battlefield and political developments, center on how the Pentagon could support the Department of Energy in seizing Tehran's highly enriched uranium, the officials told CBS News, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss national security issues.

Contingency scenarios under review Under one scenario reviewed by defense officials, U.S. troops would be deployed to several countries across the Middle East to support a rapid response operation. Specialized teams from the Department of Energy, working alongside American military personnel and other U.S. government agencies, could then enter Iran to locate, secure and remove stockpiles of enriched uranium, the officials said.

Before an American F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down back in April, triggering a major combat search and rescue effort, Pentagon officials had examined a similar concept involving the Department of Energy's Nuclear Emergency Support Team, known as NEST, according to the officials.

The proposal also envisioned participation from U.S. Special Operations forces and the Army's 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, which specializes in countering weapons of mass destruction and hazardous materials.

" There will be a "technical process to figure that out," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Technical negotiations are slated to last 60 days after a memorandum of understanding is signed, the official said. The officials told CBS News that the discussions do not represent a decision to conduct an operation.

Rather, they are part of routine military contingency planning.