Iran distributes iodine tablets to residents of areas near nuclear facilities amid rumors of a possible US strike

Iodine distribution and instructions for the population

Iranian authorities have begun distributing iodine tablets to residents of areas located near nuclear facilities amid fears of a possible American strike. The preparations are being distributed within a radius of two to three kilometers from such facilities, a representative of the Iranian Ministry of Health told The Times a representative of the Iranian Ministry of Health: 'Yes, we are distributing iodine. During every war, we have tried to distribute it within a radius of two to three kilometers from nuclear facilities.' At the same time, a video with recommendations in case of a nuclear explosion at the Pickaxe Mountain complex is circulating on Iranian social media: its authors warn that radioactive particles could rise into the atmosphere and spread over hundreds of kilometers, and residents of nearby areas may have only 10–15 minutes to take shelter. The video lists distances from the complex: about 27 kilometers to Natanz, 188 kilometers to Isfahan, and 359 kilometers to Tehran.

What is known about Pickaxe Mountain

The Pickaxe Mountain complex is located just over one and a half kilometers south of the uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. Satellite images show four reinforced entrances to underground tunnels, internal roads, and an expanding guarded perimeter; according to analysts' estimates, some parts of the complex may lie at a depth of 80–100 meters. At the same time, the exact purpose of the facility is unknown: IAEA inspectors have never visited it, and the images do not make it possible to determine whether centrifuges, enriched uranium, or other nuclear materials are located inside. As Life.ru previously reported, the focus of discussions about a possible strike has been precisely the depth of the structures and the capabilities of American bunker-busting munitions.

Rumors of a nuclear strike and Trump's position

Concerns intensified after a statement by American journalist Tucker Carlson, who in early November suggested that US President Donald Trump was considering the possibility of using nuclear weapons against Iran, naming Pickaxe Mountain as the presumed target. Trump himself had previously publicly ruled out Trump had previously publicly ruled out the need to use nuclear weapons, although he allowed for the possibility of a new attack on the underground complex. Against this backdrop, Fox News reported, that on November 5 Trump discussed with his national security team the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran. According to the channel's sources, favorable conditions for strikes may arise on November 9, when, due to the new moon, there will be almost no moonlight in the Middle East. Meanwhile, US Central Command, according to media reports, is completing preparations for possible operations but has not yet received a new order from Washington.