Iran Prepares for Nuclear Attack on 'Mount Machush' Amid US Strike Fears

Iranian officials and citizens are increasingly concerned about a potential U.S. nuclear strike on the "Mount Machush" underground complex, according to a report in The Times. This fear is fueled by a social media video circulating in Iran offering survival tips for a nuclear explosion at the site, detailing distances to nearby cities like Natanz and Kashan and advising people to "go inside, stay inside, and listen to updates." The video warns that a strike on the underground facility could eject radioactive soil and rocks into the atmosphere, with contaminated dust potentially traveling hundreds of miles.

A source within Iran's Health Ministry confirmed to The Times that iodine tablets are being distributed to residents near nuclear facilities, stating, "We are distributing iodine... You can no longer trust Trump. He might carry out this crime." An Iranian political journalist reported that recent briefings indicated senior officials are seriously considering the possibility of a U.S. nuclear attack on the site.

The "Mount Machush" complex, reportedly carved into granite rock, houses senior Iranian nuclear scientists. Satellite imagery shows fortified tunnel entrances and expanding security measures. Analysts estimate parts of the facility are 80 to 100 meters deep, making it difficult to destroy even with the U.S.'s most powerful bunker-buster bombs. However, the exact contents of the facility remain unknown, as International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have never accessed it, and satellite photos cannot confirm the presence of centrifuges, enriched uranium, or other nuclear material.

The site gained prominence in September 2020, following an explosion that destroyed a workshop for advanced centrifuges in Natanz. While Iran claims the underground halls are intended to replace the destroyed workshop, their size, depth, and fortification have raised suspicions about other purposes.

President Trump has previously referred to "Mount Machush" as a possible target, stating in July, "We are going to eliminate Mount Machush. Tell the Iranians to be ready." In September, he added, "We are noticing some activity at Mount Machush. I would advise Iran not to play games, because we will have to hit them very hard." Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson recently claimed the Trump administration, under pressure from Prime Minister Netanyahu, might be days away from a nuclear strike on the mountain.

Analysts are divided on whether the GBU-57, the U.S.'s heaviest bunker-buster bomb, can destroy facilities buried so deep. A conventional strike might only collapse entrances or disable power and ventilation, without destroying the facility itself. An Iranian political analyst close to President Rouhani's government told The Times that officials believe war is imminent and "Mount Machush" will be a primary target, adding, "Everyone knows there is very little time left. If America does not use nuclear weapons against Mount Machush, it will be a miracle."