How Iran Is Preparing to Deal with Nuclear Fallout from a US Strike

Following speculation of a potential U.S. strike on Iran with nuclear weapons, Iran has commenced preparations for a worst-case scenario. This comes after conservative commentator Tucker Carlson suggested in an X post that President Donald Trump may have been influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to consider nuclear options to penetrate Iran's heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain, where the Islamic Republic is believed to have resumed its enrichment program.

However, President Trump has previously stated his opposition to using nuclear weapons against Iran.

Despite Trump's stance, Iran, a nation that has experienced the use of weapons of mass destruction in recent history, is actively creating contingency plans. This is evident from recent guidelines broadcasted to the public via state media. Analysts argue that Tehran possesses alternative strategies in response to such a catastrophic event, which could potentially impact Washington as well.

On October 28, the Islamic Republic News Agency published a report featuring recommendations from the Isfahan Red Crescent Society and emergency services on how to shelter and avoid radioactive contamination in the event of a nuclear attack. The article highlighted the impact of a 15-kiloton tactical nuclear device detonated underground, located near the Natanz nuclear complex in Isfahan, Iran.

Iran's National Organization of Passive Defense, responsible for defending against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, has been handling such situations for over 20 years. The organization, led by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier General Gholemreza Jalali, has extensive experience dealing with chemical attacks, as Iran faced these during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War.

Following the war, then-President Ali Khamenei declared a fatwa against the development of WMDs while simultaneously expanding the country's nuclear program.