Iran nuclear explosion survival
Iranian authorities have issued a public advisory and an eight-minute educational video explaining how to survive a nuclear explosion, avoid radioactive contamination and protect against fallout. Iran’s official news agency IRNA published the material on October 29 during Passive Defence Week.
The guidance advises people to shelter in a basement or a central room of a sturdy building, away from windows, if it can be reached safely. Doors and windows should be closed, while air conditioners that draw in outside air and ventilation systems should be switched off.
People caught outdoors were told to lie close to the ground, take cover behind a barrier and protect their heads and faces until the blast wave had passed. The advisory also warned people not to use vehicles as shelters. It recommended remaining sheltered for at least 24 hours and using packaged food and bottled water.
People exposed to radioactive dust were advised to remove outer clothing carefully, seal it in bags and wash exposed skin and hair with lukewarm water and soap.
The advisory warned against taking iodine tablets without medical advice. Abbas Abedi told IRNA that stable iodine can, under certain conditions, reduce the absorption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland, but does not protect against other radioactive materials or radiation resulting from an explosion. The guidance also mentioned Prussian Blue for certain cases of internal contamination involving radioactive caesium-137.
The video identifies four principal dangers from a nuclear explosion: intense light, blast waves, extreme heat and radioactive materials. Officials also warned that electromagnetic pulses could disrupt electronic equipment and communications. Battery-powered radios were recommended for receiving official updates.
Ebrahim Adelzadeh told IRNA that a basement or a room in the central part of a building, away from windows, could be a suitable shelter if it could be accessed safely. He also said that people far from the initial explosion site should take official warnings seriously and make decisions about the safety of their homes or workplaces using information from responsible authorities.
The guidance was issued during Passive Defence Week amid speculation about a possible US strike on Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities. The material refers to the Natanz nuclear facility and Pickaxe Mountain, a nuclear-related site near Natanz. After the June 2025 Israel-US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, officials in Tehran had reassured people that radiation had not spread beyond the targeted sites. The new public guidance marked a departure from that messaging.
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