A post on X claims that a nuclear test conducted by Iran caused an earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale, triggering widespread speculation.

🚨BREAKINGS

Iran conducted a nuclear test moments ago, resulting in an earthquake measuring 4.6 ٪ on the reactor scale pic.twitter.com/0JOiM3BEcQ

— 4ZR🇸🇴🇵🇸 (@Keef337178) October 6, 2024

Verdict: Misleading

There is no evidence to support the claim that Iran conducted a nuclear test. The earthquake in question was a natural seismic event, and no international monitoring agencies have reported nuclear activity associated with it.

Fact Check:

The viral posts claims that an earthquake that occurred within the country of Iran was part of a nuclear test conducted underground. The allegations come after the country launched a missile strike against Israel following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah., according to The Associated Press.

“Iran conducted a nuclear test moments ago, resulting in an earthquake measuring 4.6 ٪ on the reactor scale,” the post claims.

The claims are unfounded. On Oct. 5, 2024, a 4.4 to 4.6 magnitude earthquake struck Iran’s Semnan province, roughly 70 miles southeast of Tehran. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake as occurring at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.

While social media posts quickly linked the earthquake to an alleged nuclear test by Iran, these claims are unfounded. Some social media posts incorrectly referred to the earthquake as being measured on a “reactor scale,” a term that does not exist in seismology. Earthquakes are measured using the Richter scale, a widely recognized logarithmic scale used to assess the magnitude of seismic events.

A search engine lookup found that the claims may be stemming from Indian-based outlets speculating on the nature of the earthquakes. However, there are no credible reports suggesting the eartquakes are not natural.

Iran’s nuclear program has long been a subject of geopolitical tension. According to The Associated Press, the Natanz Nuclear Facility is reportedly constructing an underground base to continue research into an atomic bomb should it be struck by a missile.

This isn’t the first time rumors of a nuclear test have followed seismic activity in Iran, and such claims have repeatedly been debunked due to the lack of scientific evidence. Check Your Fact has also investigated and debunked other rumors of nuclear activity, especially in regard of its potential use against the State of Israel.