Iran Nuclear Attack Survival Guide: What Citizens Should Do

Iran has issued an unusual public guide explaining how citizens should respond to a possible nuclear explosion, including instructions to seek shelter, shut down ventilation systems that draw in outside air and take precautions against radioactive contamination.

The eight-minute educational video was published by Iran’s official news agency IRNA on October 29. It advises people to find shelter in sturdy buildings, stay away from windows, use packaged food and bottled water, and remain indoors after a potential attack.

The advisory comes amid renewed speculation about a possible US strike on Iran’s deeply buried nuclear-related facilities, particularly Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz. US President Donald Trump said on October 16 that Washington might target the mountain but explicitly ruled out using nuclear weapons.

Why Has Iran Issued a Nuclear Attack Survival Guide?

The advisory was issued as part of Iran’s Passive Defence Week, an annual initiative focused on preparing the country for potential security and emergency threats. Although Iran has observed the event for more than a decade, available reports do not indicate that it previously published a nuclear attack survival guide of this kind.

The video was issued by emergency services in Isfahan, the province that houses the Natanz nuclear facility. Its publication has attracted attention because of the heightened discussion surrounding a possible American attack on Iran’s underground nuclear-related sites.

On Monday, US journalist and commentator Tucker Carlson alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pressuring Trump to launch a nuclear strike on Pickaxe Mountain within days. The allegation has not been independently established.

The latest guidance also differs from Tehran’s public messaging during the June 2025 Israel-US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. At that time, Iranian officials sought to reassure residents that radiation had not spread beyond the targeted locations.

Stay Indoors, Switch Off Air Conditioning and Avoid Windows

Iran’s advisory identifies four principal dangers associated with a nuclear explosion: intense light, blast waves, extreme heat and the possible release of radioactive materials.

Ebrahim Adelzadeh, deputy director of education and research at the Isfahan Red Crescent Society, advised residents to seek shelter inside sturdy buildings and avoid areas near windows.

“A basement or a room in the central part of a building, away from windows, can be a suitable shelter if it can be accessed safely,” Adelzadeh told IRNA.

The instructions also advise people to close doors and windows and switch off air conditioners and ventilation systems that bring outside air indoors. These precautions are intended to reduce the risk of radioactive particles entering sheltered spaces.

Reports by Egyptian outlet Veto and Riyadh-based Saudi News 50 said the guidance recommends remaining inside a shelter for at least 24 hours after a potential attack. The Saudi outlet also cautioned that people should not automatically assume their surroundings are safe once that period has passed.

What Should People Do If a Nuclear Explosion Happens Outdoors?

The Iranian video also addresses situations in which someone is caught outside during a nuclear explosion and cannot immediately reach a building.

Authorities warn people not to look directly at the intense flash. Those unable to enter a building immediately are advised to lie close to the ground, take cover behind a barrier and protect their heads and faces.

After the initial blast wave has passed, they should move into the nearest sturdy building as soon as it is safe to do so.

Egyptian outlet Sada El Balad reported that the guidance also warns people against remaining outdoors to watch or photograph an explosion. Vehicles should not be used as shelters.

According to the account published by Saudi News 50, people should move to another safe shelter if their building catches fire or faces the risk of collapse.

Iran Warns Radioactive Fallout Could Travel Beyond the Blast Site

One of the central concerns highlighted in the advisory is radioactive fallout. Iranian emergency officials warned that radioactive materials could enter the atmosphere and travel beyond the immediate area of an explosion.

Adelzadeh said people living far from the initial blast site should also pay attention to official warnings and assess the safety of their homes and workplaces using information from responsible authorities.

“Even people far from the initial site of the explosion should take official warnings seriously and make decisions about the safety of their homes or workplaces based on information provided by the responsible authorities,” he told IRNA.

The direction of the wind would be an important factor in determining where airborne radioactive particles could travel. If winds carried fallout eastward, it could potentially reach Pakistan and parts of India, although the actual risk would depend on the location of an explosion, weather conditions and the movement of radioactive material.

What to Do If Exposed to Radioactive Dust

The guidance also explains precautions for people who may have been exposed to radioactive dust or particles. They are advised to carefully remove their outer clothing, place it in sealed bags and wash exposed skin and hair with lukewarm water and soap.

Saudi News 50 reported additional recommendations, including using ordinary shampoo without conditioner and cleaning exposed skin with wet wipes if bathing is not possible.

The advisory also recommends relying on packaged food and bottled water to reduce the risk of consuming contaminated supplies.

Iran Warns Against Taking Iodine Tablets Without Medical Advice

The educational video discusses medicines that may be used in certain radiation emergencies, while warning people against taking them without professional guidance.

Abbas Abedi, a spokesperson for Isfahan’s pre-hospital emergency services, explained that stable iodine can help reduce the thyroid gland’s absorption of radioactive iodine under specific circumstances. However, it does not protect against other radioactive substances or radiation from an explosion.

“Stable iodine can, under certain conditions, reduce the absorption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland, but it does not provide protection against other radioactive materials or radiation resulting from an explosion,” Abedi told IRNA.

The video also mentions Prussian Blue, a medicine prescribed in certain cases of internal contamination involving radioactive caesium-137. These medicines are not general-purpose treatments for radiation exposure and should only be used under appropriate medical advice.

Iran Recommends Battery-Powered Radios for Emergency Updates

The advisory also highlights the possibility that electromagnetic pulses could disrupt electronic equipment and communication systems following a nuclear explosion.

Iranian officials recommended keeping battery-powered radios available so residents can receive official emergency updates if ordinary communication networks or electronic devices stop working.

The recommendation forms part of the broader preparedness guidance, which focuses on sheltering, limiting exposure to radioactive material and staying informed during an emergency.

Pickaxe Mountain and Renewed Speculation Over a US Strike

The timing of Iran’s video has drawn attention because of renewed discussion about a possible American strike on Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear-related site near Natanz.

On October 16, Trump said the United States might target the mountain, although he explicitly ruled out using nuclear weapons. Carlson subsequently alleged that Netanyahu was pushing for a nuclear strike, but that claim remains an allegation rather than a confirmed US or Israeli plan.

Pickaxe Mountain has become part of the wider debate over Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure and the potential options available to Washington and its allies.

How the Latest Advisory Differs From Iran’s Previous Public Messaging

During the June 2025 Israel-US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran’s public messaging largely focused on reassuring residents that radioactive contamination had not spread beyond the targeted sites.

The October 29 video takes a different approach by explaining how citizens should prepare for the possibility of a nuclear explosion and its potential consequences. Its instructions cover immediate blast dangers, prolonged sheltering, radioactive fallout, contaminated clothing, medical precautions and emergency communication.

Iran has linked the publication to Passive Defence Week, but the unusually detailed nature of the guidance has attracted attention amid speculation over Washington’s possible next move. The advisory does not establish that a nuclear attack is imminent; it outlines precautions Iranian authorities want residents to understand in the event of such an emergency.