Did Iran conduct underground nuclear test on Saturday night? ‘Measured’ earthquake in region suggests…

New Delhi: An earthquake of moderate intensity occurred in Iran and Israel on Saturday night, October 5. Strangely enough, both the countries experienced the earthquake at a marginal difference in the timing. In such a situation, it is being speculated whether Iran has conducted its nuclear test.

The earthquake occurred in the Aradan city of Semnan province in Iran. Its intensity was 4.5 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake occurred at around 10:45 pm local time and its epicentre was at a depth of only 10 kilometers from the ground. The tremors were felt in Tehran which is 110 kilometers away from the epicenter of the earthquake, reports the US Geological Survey.

Earthquake reported in Israel shortly after Iran

A few minutes later, an earthquake was reported from Israel. According to the report of the European Mediterranean Seismic Center (EMSC), this earthquake occurred around 12 o’clock but its intensity remained very low.

Given the intense state of conflict between Iran and Israel, people have started linking the earthquakes in these two countries with Iran’s nuclear tests on social media. There have been speculations in many reports that it was not an earthquake rather Iran conducted underground nuclear tests due to which a shock was felt in both the countries.

Nuclear test or earthquake?

A report claimed that the earthquake in Iran occurred very close to the nuclear power plant, so it cannot be said whether the shock was due to an earthquake or a nuclear test.

Another report has claimed that the earthquake in Iran could be an underground nuclear test because its center was at a depth of only 10 km from the ground. In such a situation, the speculation about Iran’s nuclear test has deepened.

Iran-Israel hostilities

Actually, the earthquakes in Iran and Israel occurred amidst the boiling tensions between the two Middle East countries. After the alleged killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Iran rained about 400 missiles on Israel on October 1.

Israel has vowed strong retaliation following the Iranian attack.