Sudden Earthquake Warnings in Tehran: Are they Prelude to a Nuclear Test?
Last week's sudden warnings by Iranian government of an imminent earthquake in Tehran has raised speculations on the cause of this sudden move. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian President, wants many residents of Tehran to permanently move out to avoid the chaos and destruction that will ensue an expected earthquake. Other government officials pointed out that especially "university students" need to leave Tehran! to stay safe. Imams appointed by Iranian leader to The Friday prayer sermons, also warned of an imminent earthquake and related that to "Adulterous" and "promiscuous" behavior by Iranians.
Nategh Nouri, the former head of the Iranian Parliament and a critic of Ahmadinejad believes the warnings are intended to control housing prices in Tehran, which are already at near record-highs, causing pressure on the poor and middle-class families. Some members of Iranian parliament also criticized the government for politicizing and manipulating the news of "earthquake" risks in Tehran.
Other critics of the government believe the sudden warnings are not based on any new scientific evidence, but rather serve other purposes such as:
- To prepare Iranians for tremors caused by any under- or above-ground nuclear tests (possibly in preparation)
- To start forced migration of residents from Iranian Capital to be able to control predicted unrest due to political and economic problems of the government such as high unemployment, delayed wages, shortages of gasoline due to new sanctions, inflationary prices, and continued suppression of the "green" reformists who have continued their objections to fraudulent elections and persecution of dissidents.
- To prepare people for any military strikes against Tehran.
The warnings coincide with large-scale maneuvers by the Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Persian Gulf.