TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Iran has begun distributing iodine tablets to residents living near its nuclear facilities, as the government braces for possible US military action. Iranian officials said the step was a precaution against the risk of a nuclear accident, warning that President Donald Trump could order strikes at any time.
Health experts note that airstrikes on a nuclear site could release radioactive material into the air. Radiation exposure can damage the thyroid gland and raise the long-term risk of thyroid cancer, and iodine tablets are used to help protect the gland. Tehran said it is supplying the medication to people living closest to the facilities.
The measures follow an emergency meeting Trump held with his national security team to weigh whether to pursue full-scale military action against Iran. Concern has mounted that the US could target a key nuclear facility in Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain region. Some observers have speculated that US forces could use the cover of a new moon, when night skies are darkest, to carry out large-scale strikes. Trump has himself warned that the war could resume, sharply raising tensions inside Iran.
Washington has also stepped up its intelligence effort. Under its Rewards for Justice program, the US is offering up to $20 million for information on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the scientists and key personnel who work there, and related equipment. It has promised to relocate informants to safe locations.
The US has already shown its willingness to use force. On Friday, American forces carried out limited airstrikes on Iran’s air defense systems, which Trump said lasted only a few minutes. Iranian media confirmed that powerful explosions were heard in the Qeshm Island area.
With the White House taking a harder line following electoral setbacks and Tehran responding with countermeasures, fears are growing that the region could face a sudden and severe escalation.