Iranian state media have released video instructions for the public in the event of a nuclear explosion. Citizens are told how to protect themselves from the shockwave, where to seek shelter and how to avoid radioactive contamination. The publication attracted the attention of the international media following a statement by the American journalist Tucker Carlson regarding the possible use of nuclear weapons by the US against Iran. However, there has been no official confirmation that such a strike is being prepared.
Briefly about the main points
- Iranian state media have released video instructions on how to survive a nuclear explosion.
- The public are advised to take shelter for at least 24 hours and avoid radioactive dust.
- Tucker Carlson has suggested the possibility of a US nuclear strike against an Iranian target.
- The White House has not confirmed the commentator’s claims regarding US military plans.
- The educational video was published on 29 October during Civil Defence Week.
Iranians have been told how to survive a nuclear explosion
The Iranian state news agency IRNA has published an eight-minute educational video on protecting the civilian population from the effects of a nuclear explosion. The relevant recommendations have also been shared by regional television channels and news outlets.
The video was produced in collaboration with the emergency services of Isfahan Province, where one of the main centres of Iran’s nuclear programme is located.
The article explains the main dangers posed by a nuclear explosion: intense light radiation, high temperatures, a shock wave and the spread of radioactive substances.
Members of the public are advised not to look directly at the flash. If a person is outdoors and cannot immediately take shelter inside a building, they are advised to take cover behind an obstacle, lie flat on the ground and protect their head and face.
Once the shock wave has passed, you should move to the nearest sturdy building as quickly as possible. It is not recommended to take shelter in cars or remain outdoors to watch the explosion.
Shelter for at least 24 hours and protection from radiation
A separate section of the instructions is devoted to what to do after an explosion.
Iranians are advised to stay in basements or the central parts of buildings, away from windows and external walls. Doors and windows must be kept closed, and ventilation systems that draw in air from outside must be switched off.
In the event of possible contact with radioactive particles, members of the public are advised to carefully remove their outer clothing, place it in a sealed bag and wash any exposed areas of the body with soap and water.
It is recommended that you drink bottled water and eat hermetically sealed food.
The minimum recommended time to stay in a shelter is 24 hours. However, the guidelines emphasise that the end of this period does not mean that the radiation hazard has automatically disappeared. People should only go outside in accordance with official announcements from the emergency services.
Health service representatives have also warned against taking iodine preparations without medical advice. They should only be used in specific circumstances and do not protect against all types of radioactive contamination.
Tucker Carlson warned of a possible US nuclear strike on Iran
The circulation of the Iranian recommendations attracted attention following a high-profile statement by an American political commentator Tucker Carlson.
In a post published on 2 November at Coordinated Universal Time, he stated that the administration Donald Trump is reportedly considering the possibility of using nuclear weapons against an Iranian underground facility Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz.
Carlson claimed that the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insists on this decision. According to the journalist, a final decision may be taken in the coming days, tentatively by 7 November.
He also suggested that the use of nuclear weapons against Iran could lead to a major international escalation.
However, the commentator did not provide any documentary evidence to support his claims, citing unnamed sources.
The White House has dismissed his claims regarding his knowledge of the administration’s military plans. A spokesperson for the US President told *The War Zone* that Carlson has no access to military operational planning or Donald Trump’s internal deliberations.
Trump himself told Axios on 2 November that he was in no hurry to make a decision on resuming large-scale strikes against Iran.
Why has Iran published these guidelines at this particular time?
The training material was published on 29 October — even before Carlson’s high-profile warning. It was released during Iran’s Civil Defence Week, which ran from 26 October to 2 November.
This year’s events focused on the public’s preparedness for various security scenarios, including large-scale hostilities.
The situation surrounding the Pickaxe Mountain underground complex, located near the nuclear facility in Natanz, drew particular attention to the instructions.
On 16 October, Donald Trump suggested the possibility of a US strike on this complex, but at the same time ruled out the need to use nuclear weapons.
On the night of 3 November, the US military also carried out limited strikes at Iranian targets on the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz. US officials have described them as defensive.
Despite the rising military tensions, the publication of guidelines for the civilian population does not confirm that Iran has received a warning of an imminent nuclear strike. There are currently no official reports that the United States is preparing such an operation.
