The health ministry rejected an account published by The Times of London alleging that iodine tablets were being dispersed near strategic atomic sites. Hossein Kermanpour stated on X that attributed quotes were completely fabricated and characterized the report as irresponsible. The disputed story claimed residents living within two to three kilometers of nuclear facilities were receiving tablets due to fears of an attack by Donald Trump. While acknowledging the healthcare system is prepared for potential enemy threats, Kermanpour clarified that war declarations fall outside the ministry's authority.
Key points
Iranian health authorities firmly refuted claims that emergency radiation medications wer…: Iranian health authorities firmly refuted claims that emergency radiation medications were being issued near domestic nuclear facilities.
Official spokespersons labeled the foreign media report irresponsible and stated that all…: Official spokespersons labeled the foreign media report irresponsible and stated that all quotes attributed to the ministry were false.
Iran maintains general medical readiness for hostile threats while affirming the health m…: Iran maintains general medical readiness for hostile threats while affirming the health ministry lacks the authority to declare wartime status.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Iran's health ministry has denied a report by The Times of London that it was distributing iodine tablets near its nuclear sites to prepare for possible US strikes.
"No Ministry of Health official has spoken to The Times, and the quote attributed to the ministry is false," Hossein Kermanpour, head of the ministry's public relations and information centre, wrote on X.
He said the health system was prepared for various scenarios and threats from "an enemy that does not even spare children". But he added that declaring a state of war was not within the ministry's authority.
He called publishing unverified reports at such a time "irresponsible".
The Times of London had cited an unnamed health ministry official who said Iran was handing out iodine tablets to communities near its nuclear facilities.
The official was quoted as saying, “Trump can no longer be trusted. He may go through with this crime," and that in every war, Iran had tried to distribute the tablets, which help protect the thyroid gland from radiation, within two to three kilometres of its nuclear sites.
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