Iran Begins Distributing Iodine Tablets Near Bushehr Nuclear Plant as Precaution

Iranian health authorities have begun distributing iodine tablets to residents of Bushehr, the coastal city that hosts the country's only operational nuclear power plant, according to reports citing the Young Journalists Club (YJC). The distribution started in areas near the plant and was later expanded across the city, with crisis management officials ordering the release of 180,000 tablets.

The tablets are being made available only at comprehensive health centers in Bushehr. According to officials, the measure is part of an emergency preparedness plan that was launched before the June 2025 war. It is intended to protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine in the event of a nuclear or radiological incident.

Iodine tablets work by saturating the thyroid so that it absorbs less radioactive iodine. Officials said the tablets should be taken from 24 hours before possible exposure up to four hours after. Dosages vary by age: infants under one month receive one-eighth of a tablet, children aged one month to three years receive one-quarter, those aged three to 12 receive half, and people over 12 take a full tablet.

Authorities noted that the tablets do not protect against other radioactive substances or against external radiation. The distribution is described as a precautionary measure rather than a response to a specific incident.

The development comes amid heightened regional tensions. On November 1, US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could strike remaining suspected nuclear facilities within about 10 minutes, referring to Pickaxe Mountain. On October 16, he ruled out the use of nuclear weapons but left open the possibility of further conventional strikes.

Some reports about the iodine distribution have been circulated by outlets known for propaganda. Verified sources have not independently confirmed the scale of the program, and the information should be treated with appropriate caution.