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Document shows Pentagon sought 13 minerals before Iran strike

US military asks mining companies to boost supply of 13 critical minerals used in weapons, chips and technology before strikes on Iran.

By Fahad On Mar 5, 2026

Pentagon – (Web Desk) – The United States military asked mining companies last Friday to help increase the country’s supply of 13 key minerals used in semiconductors, weapons, and other advanced technologies, according to a document reviewed by Reuters. The request came just one day before the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, highlighting Washington’s growing efforts to secure important materials widely used in modern warfare.

The Pentagon sent the request to members of the Defence Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), a network of more than 1,500 companies, universities, and organizations that support the US military. It asked them to submit project proposals by March 20 for initiatives that could mine, process, or recycle selected minerals.

Although the consortium has been involved in mineral supply projects for some time, it is unclear whether the timing of the request was directly linked to the military strikes on Iran.

The list of 13 minerals includes arsenic, bismuth, gadolinium, germanium, graphite, hafnium, nickel, samarium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, and zirconium. The United States depends heavily on imports for most of these resources, while China remains the world’s leading producer of many of them.

Several companies are already preparing proposals. Guardian Metal Resources plans to apply for funding for two tungsten projects in Nevada. Its executive chairman, J.T. Starzecki, described the opportunity as a long-awaited step that could help the company reach full production at both sites. Meanwhile, American Tungsten, which is developing a mine in Idaho, also plans to request funding to support its project.

The Pentagon requested detailed cost information for building mining or processing facilities, including labour and materials. Projects could receive development funding ranging from $100 million to more than $500 million.

The document does not explain why these specific 13 minerals were selected. However, some of them, including germanium, graphite, and yttrium, have recently faced export restrictions from China, the world’s largest supplier.

Yttrium shortages, especially, have set off alarm bells throughout the aerospace industry. One of the 17 rare earths, yttrium is used in coatings that keep engines and turbines from melting at high temperatures. Without regular application of these coatings, engines cannot be used.

Colorado-based Energy, also a DIBC member, said it is developing facilities to process gadolinium and samarium by 2027, and is considering processing yttrium.

🚨BREAKING: Pentagon’s scrambling for domestic supplies of 13 critical minerals amid Iran tensions!🚨

👉The List included: Arsenic, Bismuth, Gadolinium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Nickel, Samarium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Ytterbium, Yttrium, Zirconium. For semis, weapons, &…

— International Stacker (@IntlStacker) March 5, 2026

“The domestic supply of critical minerals remains essential to safeguarding both national security and economic stability,” said Mark Chalmers, the Energy Fuels CEO.

Nickel is a widely traded metal and Indonesia is the top global producer. Yet Jakarta has been throttling exports of the metal used widely in stainless steel and battery production.

The White House, DIBC and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

DIBC’s request is just the latest attempt by the Trump administration to increase US supply of key critical minerals. China has been using its market control as diplomatic leverage in ongoing trade disputes with Washington.

Last month, Trump officials launched a $12 billion minerals stockpile backed by the US Export-Import Bank and proposed a preferential minerals trading bloc with more than 50 allies.

That trading bloc would aim to use reference prices for minerals derived in part by a Pentagon-created artificial intelligence programme, Reuters reported last week.

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The administration has also taken equity stakes in rare earths miner MP Materials, Lithium Americas, and copper-and-cobalt developer Trilogy Metals.

Separately on Wednesday, the Defence Logistics Agency, which buys a range of goods for the US military, asked for information from miners on potentially acquiring lithium, chromium and tellurium for military stockpiles.