Politics
BREAKING: Massive ‘Earthquake’ Hits Iran, Speculation Explodes
An earthquake ripped across northern Iran on Friday, prompting speculation about what it may mean in the midst of heavy bombing by Israel that has entered its eighth day.
A 5.2 magnitude quake was recorded near Semnan, according to Iranian state media. The city and province, both of the same name, sit roughly three hours east of Tehran.
The Daily Wire’s Kassy Akiva notes that the location is significant because Semnan is home to the Semnan Missile Complex, one of Iran’s largest ballistic testing grounds for much of the arsenal that has been fired at Israel in counterstrikes since last week.
The U.S. Geological Survey also reported 4.2 magnitude earthquakes in Riyush and Faryab, and a 5.1 magnitude quake in Sorkheh.
The Semnan province also houses the Semnan Space Center, which serves as the primary launch point for Iran’s space program.
Critics of the country’s government, including the National Council of Resistance of Iran, have accused Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of weaponizing the space port for military purposes, citing the alleged proliferation of nuclear weapons, which are at the center of a simmering dispute with Israel.
The Jewish nation launched a preemptive attack last week, decimating the Iranian air force and outstripping its ability to defend from Israeli jets that now patrol the nation’s skies.
Akiva cautioned that Iran is historically one of the most seismically active countries in the world, leaving observers to speculate whether it was a simple natural phenomenon or the secret work of Israel.
On Friday, European leaders met with Iranian diplomats in Geneva for high-level talks regarding the future of Iran’s nuclear program, a precursor to direct talks with President Donald Trump. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the country is open to negotiating an end to its pursuit of enriched uranium — a key demand sought by Trump — but that Khamenei refuses to open talks while under siege from Israel.
President Trump has criticized Khamenei for arriving to the table “too late” and promised to decide “within two weeks” whether to aid Israel by dropping American-made bombs into Iran. White House officials clarified to Politico that the president’s timeframe is a nebulous target, which could mean more or less than what he stated.
The depth of the quake indicates that it is likely natural, not man-made, Akiva explained.
“Reports say the earthquake was 10 km deep, indicating it is likely natural,” she wrote on X.
Still, netizens of X had plenty to say about whether Trump surprised Iran with a U.S.-led attack.
State-run media have reported no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The Semnan province is moderate to sparse in population, with just over 570,835 residents over 37,000 square miles, or roughly the size of Indiana. It is home to some of the country’s limited manufacturing industries, including steel, textile, and mining.