Iran quake sparks speculation of covert nuke test

Days after tremors were felt in Iran, speculation is growing of it being a possible nuclear event. A 4.5-magnitude seismic event was reported from Iran's Semnan province on Oct 5.

The epicentre of the quake was reportedly around 10 kilometres beneath the surface and close to an Iranian nuclear power plant. The earthquake's depth and proximity to a nuclear facility are now raising eyebrows.

Such a seismic event is typically the result of an earthquake, but speculation has arisen on social media suggesting the event was instead an underground nuclear test carried out by the Islamic Republic in response to Israeli threats to bomb Tehran's nuclear energy and oil facilities.

According to Iranian sources speaking with The Cradle, the possibility that a nuclear test was indeed conducted is being discussed at high levels in Iran.

Syrian sources speaking with The Cradle in September predicted that Iran would seek to develop breakout nuclear weapons capability in response to Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Iran launched at least 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, causing damage to three airbases on 1 October, following Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforushan on 27 September.

Iran is now awaiting a possible Israeli response. The speculation that Iran carried out a nuclear test comes just days after the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank in the US, published a report stating that "Iran can produce nuclear weapons far more rapidly than expected."

Published on 1 October, the report noted that in late April 2024, a senior Iranian lawmaker stated that there is only a "one-week gap from the issuance of the order to the first test" of a nuclear bomb.