Iran is distributing iodine tablets to communities near its nuclear facilities amid fears of renewed U.S. attacks, The Times of London reported Friday, citing an unnamed Iranian Health Ministry official. Iran’s Health Ministry later disputed the report.
According to the official, Iranian authorities have sought during each war to distribute the tablets to residents within two to three kilometers of nuclear facilities. “Trump can no longer be trusted,” the official told the newspaper. Iodine tablets protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine in the event of radiation exposure.
An Iranian political journalist told The Times that reporters were informed at a recent briefing that officials were seriously considering the possibility of a U.S. nuclear strike on Pickaxe Mountain, the heavily fortified underground facility near Natanz.
Iran’s Health Ministry challenged the report. Hossein Kermanpour, the ministry’s head of public relations, said no ministry official had spoken to The Times and disputed the quotes attributed to the ministry. He added that Iran’s health system is on alert to deal with various scenarios and threats, but that declaring a state of war is not within the ministry’s authority.
Separately, Iran’s Young Journalists Club news agency reported Friday that health authorities have been distributing iodine tablets to residents of the southern city of Bushehr, home to Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant. Iran has distributed iodine tablets in Bushehr before, including about 180,000 tablets in April.
The report comes as President Donald Trump weighs whether to resume major military operations against Iran. Fox News reported this week that U.S. officials see November 9, a new moon offering an especially dark night, as a favorable date for possible strikes. The State Department also announced Friday that it is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information on Iran’s nuclear program.
