Iran Shares Nuclear Blast Survival Guide With Citizens

An eight-minute video tells Iranians what to do if a nuclear blast occurs: get inside, stay away from windows, and switch off air conditioners that draw in outside air. Iran’s state news agency IRNA published the guide on October 29, and state television broadcast detailed instructions on Tuesday. The advice comes as talk of possible US strikes grows, but it is not evidence that an attack is planned. ^1,4

The video came from emergency services in Isfahan province, home to the Natanz nuclear facility. It names intense light, blast waves, heat, and radioactive material as the main dangers. Red Crescent Society education official Ebrahim Adelzadeh said a basement or central room in a sturdy building could offer shelter if people can reach it safely. The guide says to close doors and windows, turn off ventilation, and follow official updates. ^1,3

The guide advises people to stay inside for at least 24 hours, use bottled water and packaged food, and not use cars for protection. People caught outdoors are told not to look at the flash, but to get low, cover their heads and faces. They are then told to move to a sturdy building after the blast wave passes. The video also warns against taking iodine tablets without medical advice. Its release marks a shift from officials’ public response to the June 2025 strikes, when they said radiation had not spread beyond the sites that were hit. ^2,3

The discussion around the guide centers on Pickaxe Mountain, a nuclear-related site buried deep near Natanz. US President Donald Trump said on October 16 that Washington could target it, while ruling out nuclear weapons. Tucker Carlson’s claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing for a nuclear strike is an allegation, not proof of a US plan. Iran’s immediate instruction is to follow civil-defence guidance and official announcements if an emergency occurs. ^2,8